MODERN GAMES can grab victory in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (British Champions Series) (3.35pm) at Newbury on Saturday afternoon.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt, under Liverpool FC fan William Buick, can land the Group One feature at the Berkshire track to give Godolphin a record-extending ninth victory and a first since the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester scored in 2017.
Modern Games is yet to win at the top level in Britain but the globetrotting son of Dubawi has won plenty all around the world. He took the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November 2021 before landing the French 2,000 Guineas at ParisLongchamp the following May. He was then third in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) the following month when stepped up to 1m2½f. He is clearly better at a mile and although he could only finish second in both the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and also in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on home soil, he did win the Grade One Woodbine Mile Stakes in Canada.
On that defeat in the QEII – he was beaten by Bayside Boy on ground that was probably too soft – his turn at a British Group One must surely be near. And that should be on Saturday in the Lockinge before a possible trip to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne Stakes next month.
The chief dangers to the selection include stable-mate Tribalist – a good winner of a Group Two at Saint-Cloud last time; Charlie Hills’ improving bet365 Mile scorer Mutasaabeq; and the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Jadoomi, who was third in the QEII.
It could be a good day at Newbury for Appleby and Buick with several big chances of victory. One of those could be YIBIR on his return to action in the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park Stakes) (2.25pm).
The five-year-old gelded son of Dubawi has won at Newbury in the past and has some top-class form including in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar in November 2021. He has not run since landing the Group Two Prince Of Wales’s Close Brother Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting last season. Providing he is fully fit on his seasonal reappearance he should be too good for his rivals.
The Appleby-trained NOBLE STYLE, again to be ridden by Buick, can bounce back to form with victory in the Listed BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes (1.50pm) and book his ticket to the Commonwealth Cup at next month’s Royal Ascot.
The Kingman colt won all three of his juvenile starts, including the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York last August. He found the step up to a mile too much for him in the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket when he was back in sixth. The drop back to sprinting looks ideal and he can land the six-furlong Listed contest before returning to Group One company in Berkshire.
The BetVictor London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap (3pm) has thrown up some top Group One performers down the years and it is always worth noting those who do well in it for the rest of the season. Aidan O’Brien’s BERTINELLI could be one of those in the field who can go on to bigger and better things and he can take 1m2f contest first. He has shaped with promise on his three starts so far, winning a maiden at Dundalk in November and finishing second to Alder – who was subsequently second in the Dee Stakes at last week’s May Festival at Chester – on his first try at this trip at Cork last month. He can return to winning ways ahead of chiefly Appleby’s Bold Act and William Haggas-trained Desert Hero.
The Willie Muir and Chris Grassick-trained TOP SECRET can bring up a hat-trick of victories on his seasonal return in the BetVictor Handicap (4.10pm).
Others who can triumph at Newbury are the O’Brien-trained WARM HEART – the Galileo filly who got off the mark at the third attempt at Leopardstown earlier this month – in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes (4.45pm); and Charlie Hills’ SHOBIZ – also ridden by Buick – in the finale, the Connect It Utility Services Handicap (5.18pm).
At Newmarket Kevin De Foy’s EXPERT AGENT can make it four wins in a row on his return to Turf in the Aspall Suffolk Draught Cyder Handicap (2.40pm). The three-year-old gelding has won three times on the all-weather at Kempton and Lingfield twice over the past few months and can continue in fine form to land a first success on the grass.
Godolphin trainer Appleby may also be the mark at Newmarket with STRIKING STAR in the Aspall Premier Cru Handicap (3.15pm). The three-year-old can make it third time lucky having been runner-up twice this season at Doncaster and over course and distance at Newmarket earlier this month.
Haggas’ MONTASSIB can win build on his fourth-placed finish at Haydock Park last month to win the Aspall Blush Cyder Handicap (3.50pm). While Andrew Balding’s TOTNES can make it three wins from four starts this season with victory Aspall Cyder 1728 Handicap (2.05pm).
Others who can win at Headquarters are the Ed Walker-trained MISS ROBERTS in the opener, the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (1.30pm); Paul and Oliver Cole’s filly SUMO SAM in the Darley Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (4.25pm); and ISLE OF LISMORE, from the Robert Cowell stable, in the Aspall Cyder Vinegar Handicap (5pm).
At Thirsk Keith Dalgleish’s ABERAMA GOLD – who was second on his return to the Turf at Doncaster earlier this month – can win the Sky Bet Prize Drop Handicap (3.42pm).
Others who can triumph at the North Yorkshire track are the Tim Easterby-trained course and distance winner DANZAN in the Sky Bet Handicap (4.17pm); Philip Makin’s IMPRESSOR in the ITV7 Weekly Jackpot Handicap (4.52pm); the hat-trick-seeking course and distance winner LITTLE JO, from the Gemma Tufty stable in the Division One of the Sky Bet Buildabet Handicap (5.25pm); and another course and distance winner DIAMOND HAZE for Michael Dods and jockey Connor Beasley in Division Two of the Sky Bet Buildabet Handicap (5.58pm).
Wright Ones
NEWBURY
1.50pm Noble Style
2.25pm Yibir
3pm Bertinelli
3.35pm Modern Games (NAP)
4.10pm Top Secret
4.45pm Warm Heart
5.18pm Shobiz
NEWMARKET
1.30pm Miss Roberts
2.05pm Totnes
2.40pm Expert Agent
3.15pm Striking Star
3.50pm Montassib
4.25pm Sumo Sam
5pm Isle Of Lismore
THIRSK
1.57pm Dear Mary
2.32pm Mid Winster
3.07pm Edge Of Darkness
3.42pm Aberama Gold
4.17pm Danzan
4.52pm Impressor
5.25pm Little Jo
5.58pm Diamond Haze
BANGOR
1.35pm Waspy
2.10pm Oceans Red
2.45pm El Borracho
3.20pm Heartbreak Kid
3.55pm The Wrekin
4.30pm Luna Dora
5.05pm Whozatgirl
DONCASTER
5.50pm Divine Comedy
6.20pm Havana Rose
6.50pm Almaty Star
7.20pm Reel Rosie
7.50pm May Blossom
8.20pm Sporting Hero
8.50pm Golden Maverick
SUNDAY’S NAP: Tele Red (4.55pm Ripon)