Now that York’s Dante Festival is done and dusted, all eyes will be on the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The nine-strong field will take to the track as only one can add to the list of winners that contains the likes of Baaeed, Palace Pier, Night Of Thunder, Canford Cliffs, and the most famous winner of them all, the mighty Frankel.

Get the best Derby odds from the online horse racing betting sites here.

Group 1 Lockinge Stakes Runner By Runner Betting Guide – 1m

7 Rosallion (7)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 1/211-
• Rating: 122
• Jockey: Sean Levey
• Trainer: Richard Hannon
• Odds: 7/4

Rosallion has not been seen on a racecourse since getting the better of Henry Longfellow in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Before that win, he was the winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, making up for his defeat in the UK equivalent.

He’s a horse that I have a lot of time for, but even though he has a lot going for him here, including his favoured quick ground, he may need the run after being off the track for 333 days. Whatever he does today, he should be all the better for it.

Star rating:

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2 Dancing Gemini (1)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 654-11
• Rating: 118
• Jockey: Ryan Moore
• Trainer: Roger Teal
• Odds: 10/3

Having failed to get a win under his belt as a three-year-old, Dancing Gemini has made up for lost time this season, winning a Listed race at Doncaster in March and followed that up with an easy win over Tamafana in the Group 2 bet365 Miles at Sandown.

He will be at peak fitness here, and given that he won his maiden at this track over 6f, we know that he acts around here. With Ryan Moore doing the steering on Dancing Gemini, it’s easy to see him being the one to beat with a lot in his favour.

Star rating:

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4 Notable Speech (9)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 17153-
• Rating: 122
• Jockey: William Buick
• Trainer: Charlie Appleby
• Odds: 4/1

Having never raced as a two-year-old, Notable Speech went from winning in the shadows of the floodlights at Kempton to taking Group 1 glory on his first attempt when getting the better of Rosallion in the English 2000 Guineas. The form of that race was well and truly reversed when Notable Speech was six lengths behind the same rival at Royal Ascot.

Notable Speech didn’t take long to return to winning ways when comfortably taking the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on his next start. Now that he has had a nice break after what was a long season for him, this son of Dubawi looks like the type that will improve even further this season. If he is ready to roll on his first start of the season, he will be bang there fighting out the finish.

Star rating:

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9 Tamfana (6)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 8st 13lb
• Form: 4113-2
• Rating: 116
• Jockey: Rossa Ryan
• Trainer: David Menuisier
• Odds: 6/1

A two-time Grade 1 winner against her own sex, Tamafana could only manage a third-place finish when taking on the boys at this level. She had her comeback in the bet365 Mile when finding Dancing Gemini too good for her in the end. She is entitled to come forward for that run, but it is hard to see her turning form around with the Roger Teal runner. She will have strong claims once she returns to fillies and mares company.

Star rating:

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8 Fallen Angel (5)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 8st 13lb
• Form: /8124-
• Rating: 114
• Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
• Trainer: Karl Burke
• Odds: 16/1

The second of the two fillies entered, and just like Tamfana, Fallen Angel has tasted Group 1 glory against her own sex. This will be the first time Fallen Angel has taken on the boys, and if she is to get her head in front against some top-class opposition here, she will need to be ready to run the race of her life. It’s hard to see her winning, but she could hold on for a place if she adopts her customary front-running tactics.

Star rating:

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3 Lead Artist (3)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 1212-8
• Rating: 117
• Jockey: Oisin Murphy
• Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
• Odds: 20/1

Last season, we saw Lead Artist win two Group 3s and also had a good second to Spirit Dancer in the Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy to his name. Still, that form wouldn’t be enough to get him that elusive Group 1 success today.

His comeback run left a lot to be desired when finishing last of eight behind Dancing Gemini in the bet365 Mile, and even if he does come on a lot for that run, it will not be enough for him to reverse the form with Dancing Germini let alone win.

Star rating:

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5 Persica (8)

• Age: 4
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 318-31
• Rating: 112
• Jockey: Tom Marquand
• Trainer: Richard Hannon
• Odds: 40/1

Persica came back year with a good third in the Group 3 Winter Derby Stakes on the all-weather at Southwell and went on to show the benefit of that run when winning well at Newmarket in the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton, getting the better of the joint-favourite Ottoman Fleet.

That form would not be anywhere near good enough to win this, but he has shown before that he can hold his own against Notable Speech, King’s Gambit and Anmaat, which, if he could get to that level, would see him have a squeak of picking up place money.

Star rating:

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6 Prague (8)

• Age: 5
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 45210-
• Rating: 116
• Jockey: Jim Crowley
• Trainer: Dylan Cunha
• Odds: 50/1

Having never made it to the track for Aidan O’Brien, Prague made up for lost time when Dylan Cunha finally got him to the tack last season, winning two of his five races, including a Group 2 at Newmarket.

He didn’t go unbacked in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot, but he ran no sort of race to finish 11th of 12. It’s hard to know what to expect from Prague here, but if he is ready to go, he does look a shade overpriced and one who can outrun his odds.

Star rating:

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1 Checkandchallenge (4)

• Age: 6
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Form: 65-283
• Rating: 107
• Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
• Trainer: William Knight
• Odds: 100/1

A listed win back in 2023 was the last time Checkandchallenge got his head in front, and it would be a miracle if he won here. He’s easy to rule out.

Star rating:

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Group 1 Lockinge Stakes Verdict

There may be nine runners, but a realistic winning chance can be made for only four, and the one who it should pay to side with is the race-fit DANCING GEMINI.

He looks to have improved from three to four, and if he can take another step forward here, it may be enough to get the better of Notable Speech and Rosallion.

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