LOCKED ON TO JOLLIES

Andy Newton analyses trends in Newbury highlight bookies fear

- Andy Newton

ANOTHER of the big May Flat races is the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, which is always run at Newbury and this year will be staged on Saturday May 18 over one mile.

Being first run in 1958, the race, which is for three-year-olds and older, was won 12 months ago by Godolphin's Modern Games, who rewarded favourite backers at 3/1.

In fact, that win has now seen the last three renewals of the Lockinge Stakes go to the market leaders, as well as five of the last six to suggest this is currently a race the punters are winning over the bookies.

Over the years, we've seen some top horses win the Lockinge too -including the mighty Frankel in 2012, Brigadier Gerard in 1972, Kris in 1980 while last year we saw the already-mentioned Modern Games land the prize, giving the 'boys in blue' their ninth success in the race.

So, let's take a look at some more trends ahead of the 2024 race.

Trip: First up is the trip. With the Lockinge Stakes run over a mile, then looking for past winners over this distance is a must-have - the only downside is that most of the runners will tick this stat that's seen ALL of the last 20 winners fit the bill.