Lockinge Stakes tips and odds: Modern Games backed to win

Belfast Telegraph

19 May 2023

Lockinge Stakes tips and odds: Modern Games backed to win

The Lockinge Stakes, a Group 1 contest run over 1m at Newbury, is open to four-year-olds and above, and it is one of the leading races in the division in the British Champions Series.

A field of 13 runners has been declared for this year’s edition, with an off time of 3.35pm on Saturday. Godolphin has won this race a record eight times, and is represented this year by Modern Games. In what will be his final ride in this event, Frankie Dettori is set to saddle Laurel, while My Prospero is a course-and-distance (C&D) winner.

The previous two victors of this race are Palace Pier and Baaeed. Both horses went on to have impressive campaigns, with multiple Group 1 triumphs later in the season.

Newbury, 3.35, Saturday May 20 – Lockinge Stakes 2023 odds

Odds are courtesy of 10bet, correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.

22/1 bar

Lockinge Stakes betting predictions

Selection: Modern Games @ 3/1 with 10bet

Next best: My Prospero @ 5/1 with 10bet

Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.

Already used the 10bet sign-up offer? Take a look at more great bookmaker offers and the best betting sites.

Modern Games can give Godolphin more Lockinge success

MODERN GAMES ended 2022 as one of the leading three-year-olds in Europe. He prevailed three times in Group 1s last season, including in Canada, France and the United States.

The former Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner came home third in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in 2022. He then chased home Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, getting within two lengths of the superstar.

At the back end of the year, Modern Games showed his class around the world. He landed the Group 1 Woodbine Miles Stakes in Canada, and at the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Meeting at Keeneland won the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Charlie Appleby’s runner has already had one appearance so far this season. He finished second in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland on another trip to North America. He stayed on strongly at the back end of that race, and is sure to improve.

With a rating of 121, the son of Dubawi is the joint-highest-rated runner in this field. He will appreciate the good ground, and his connections will be keen for the horse to prove himself in the UK.

Selection: Modern Games @ 3/1 with 10bet

Discover the latest free bets to use on this week’s sporting action.

My Prospero in the mix for more C&D success

After finishing a close third in the Qipco Champions Stakes at Ascot last October, MY PROSPERO has a career-high mark of 121 now. He finished less than a length behind the winner Bay Bridge and just a nose behind former Derby winner Adayar in that race on British Champions Day.

William Haggas’s colt has only raced six times in his career so far. He has a 50 per cent strike rate, with one of those three victories coming over C&D on his opening start in his three-year-old campaign.

The pick of this horse’s successes last season was his triumph in the Group 2 Prix Eugène Adam at Saint-Cloud in Paris. He made it all in that race in what was a game performance under the hands of Tom Marquand.

There was almost a major success at Royal Ascot for Haggas’s star as he was third in the St James’s Palace Stakes, finishing only a neck behind the winner Coroebus. Those performances in Group 1 company prove he deserves to be at the highest level.

The son of Iffraaj is dropping back down to 1m now after two appearances over 1m 2f. He is very comfortable with this distance – and if it is a strongly run race, his stamina will kick in at the end.

Selection: My Prospero @ 5/1 with 10bet

Find racecards for every meeting every day plus horse racing predictions for each and every race.