THE feature at Newbury is the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Group 1 with Baaeed Unibet 2/5 on making his seasonal reappearance after a fantastic 2021, with six victories from six starts. On his career debut at Leicester last April, he really impressed as a highly promising colt and thereafter he was marked up in my Unibet blog. Baaeed was at his very best in beating Palace Pier on his last start in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
The 2022 Lockinge renewal looks a tactical affair with no obvious front runner and my each way selection Real World is the most likely to take them along, with Baaeed making a late winning challenge to retain his 100% winning record. I’m looking forward to being at Newbury to see this success.
Enjoy whether at Newbury or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.50 Newmarket – Denbury Homes Fairway Stakes Listed Race (1m 2f)
Ottoman Fleet, this son of Sea The Stars, is making his second course appearance after finishing second to stablemate Natural World (third to United Nations next time out), when beaten a neck. Ottoman Fleet was held up in the rear that day and showed some greenness when moving forwards before making his late challenge. He looks an exciting prospect and one to watch.
Unibet 15/8
2.10 Newbury – Al Rayyan Stakes Group 3 (1m 4f)
Outbox can strike in an open looking race in which he has his ideal conditions over one mile four furlongs on good ground and a small field to dominate. He ran well enough at Newmarket last time, when third behind Living Legend and looked like he will come on for that run. On his penultimate start in February he beat Mutabhi at Doha, who has gone on win his next two starts. Outbox is a winner and third from two starts at Newbury and has a chance to make all.
Unibet 8/1 each way
2.45 Newbury – London Gold Cup Handicap (1m 2f)
Red Vineyard (nap) won impressively at Sandown last month over this trip on his third career start in a race where the form looks very strong indeed. If you take the second home Al Qareem (runs at York on Friday) as the yardstick he beat Mr Big Stuff (runs in the London Gold Cup) at Nottingham in a race that’s working out very well last month. Red Vineyard looked well suited by the step up to one mile two furlongs and he is a fast-improving three-year-old with a lot more to come.
Unibet 17/2 each way
Inverness finished sixth on career debut behind Coroebus last August, ahead of coming with a late challenge at Goodwood to beat Educator in September. Educator has franked the form in winning his next two starts and on his latest start in April he had Israr, the likely market leader here in third. Inverness on his seasonal reappearance ran in the Cazoo Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, finishing sixth behind Nahanni with United Nations in fourth. This looks a good opportunity for Inverness, who will like the quick going and will challenge late for the inform Charlie Hills team. A strong each way chance.
Unibet 10/1 each way
3.00 Newmarket – Birketts LLP Handicap (7f)
Shine So Bright won on seasonal debut beating Wizard D’Amour (reopposes today) on the Rowley Mile at the Qipco Guineas Festival with seven-pound claimer Harry Davies in the plate, who again takes the ride. Shine So Bright was very keen on that occasion and Harry Davies tried to tuck him in but he took himself to the front to win well. I was at Newmarket that day and Shine So Bright looked like he will really come on for that success, with a strong chance here.
Unibet 7/2
3.20 Newbury – Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Group 1 (1m)
Real World can chase home odds on favourite Baaeed on his return to turf racing in England. Real World’s last two starts were on dirt at Riyadh and Meydan respectively and Real World is just not suited by this surface. having won on turf at Meydan on his first start of 2022. It is worth remembering that Real World’s form figures domestically last season were 1111, with his Royal Hunt Cup success at Royal Ascot, a Listed victory here at Newbury, a step up to Group 3 company at York and his final victory at Longchamp, when beating The Revenant, who would have been suited by the very soft going in a Group 2. In 2021 Real World proved he can win on a range of ground and over distances of one mile to one mile two furlongs and in a Lockinge with no natural front runner Real World could set the pace as he did for much of the race in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Unibet 15/2 each way
