Saturday 14th May 2022

Author: Jordan Yates

A big welcome to this week’s Saturday Preview which comes from Newbury as it’s Lockinge Day. Swiftly moving on from what was a complete shambles from a punting perspective at York this week, I’ll kick things off with the 1:35 at Newbury which is the Listed Carnarvon Stakes over six furlongs. I’ve taken a chance on Ehraz here at 5/1 who’s the mount of Jim Crowley and represents Richard Hannon. He looked a smart youngster last season when hacking up at Ascot by over four lengths, he then disappointed in the Acomb Stakes at York before returning to the track last month with a solid effort in Group 3 company at Newmarket. If building on that effort here I think he could have a major say, and connections have always thought highly of him.

Next up it’s the 2:10 which is the Al Rayyan Stakes, a Group 3 contest that’s ridden over a mile and four furlongs. This is a competitive affair of which I’ve taken a chance on Ilaraab at 11/2 for the combination of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He had a busy but very productive campaign a couple of years back, and continued said progression last season, signing off with a Group 3 victory. He made his return to the track last month when finishing fourth of seven behind Max Vega in a Group 3 here and he should build on that here, if he does he’s got every chance of going close.

It’s the 2:45 next which is the London Gold Cup, a competitive handicap that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. You could make a case for most of these, but it’s Mr Big Stuff at 11/2 that I’ve taken a chance on here for Richard Spencer and Hollie Doyle. He arrives here a maiden, which obviously isn’t ideal, however, he’s got some very solid form in his locker. Most notably, finishing third behind the now strong Derby fancy Desert Crown, and then making his seasonal reappearance at Nottingham last month where he finished a length second behind Al Qareem, who franked the form at York this week. I think he’s a big player here and he gets the added bonus of receiving weight off a lot of his market rivals.

The feature of the day comes up at 3:20 which is the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes over a miles. Keeping this simple, this looks to be all about Baeed at the very skinny price of 1/2 for the team of Jim Crowley and William Haggas. Sporting the famous Shadwell silks, he developed into a superstar miler last season signing off his campaign with Group 1 success in the QEII on Champions Day at Ascot, it will take a huge performance to stop him here. If you want one as an each-way alternative Alcohol Free at 14/1 should take a step forward from her first run of the season at Sandown where she finished third. She represents the team of Andrew Balding and Rob Hornby.