James Maxwell
Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-04-29
The BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes runs at Newbury on Saturday 16 May 2026 -- the season's first British Group 1 over a mile for older horses, and the year's official re-opening of the senior milers' division.
Group 1, 1 mile (straight), 4yo+, GBP 400,000 total prize fund [Newbury Racecourse]. The title sponsor changed from Al Shaqab to BoyleSports for 2026.
The roll of honour reads like a tour of recent miling greats: Frankel, Solow, Roaring Lion, Palace Pier, Modern Games, Baaeed, Audience, Lead Artist (2025) -- the Lockinge identifies the season's leading miler more reliably than any other early-summer race.
18 horses remain in contention after the first scratching stage at noon on Tuesday 28 April 2026 [Newbury Racecourse "18 Remain In Contention" 28 April]. Final declarations noon Monday 11 May; supplementary stage GBP 20k.
The 2026 race has shaped into the most competitive Lockinge in years:
- Field Of Gold (J&T Gosden) -- 4yo grey by Kingman, 2025 dual Group 1 winner (Irish 2,000 Guineas + St James's Palace Stakes), runner-up to Opera Ballo in the Sandown Mile on 24 April. Best price: 10/3 BoyleSports [Racing Post 24 April].
- Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby) -- 5yo by Dubawi, champion turf male (Woodbine Mile + Breeders' Cup Mile 2025). Luckless 4th in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland 10 April.
- Zeus Olympios (Karl Burke) -- 4yo by Night Of Thunder, 3rd in the Sandown Mile to Field Of Gold and Opera Ballo on 24 April -- his first defeat (now 4-1-0-1).
- The Lion In Winter (Aidan O'Brien) -- 4yo, recent Listed reappearance Leopardstown.
- Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal) -- 5yo, 2025 Sandown Mile winner; 2nd to Lead Artist in 2025 Lockinge.
Trends point firmly to a four-year-old: 4yos won 7 of the last 9 run renewals (78%) [Wikipedia + Geegeez 2025 Trends + OLBG]. Field Of Gold, Zeus Olympios and The Lion In Winter all fit; 5yo Notable Speech needs to break the trend.
This preview takes the field, the form, the trends and the price.
The race in numbers
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1 mile (straight) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Grade | Group 1 |
| Eligibility | 4yo+ |
| Prize fund | GBP 400,000 |
| 2026 sponsor | BoyleSports (changed from Al Shaqab for 2026) |
| Course | Newbury (straight mile) |
What Newbury asks
Newbury's straight mile is one of the most galloping flat-racing tests in Britain -- no bend, no camber, no tactical wrinkle. Pace is honest, the cream rises, and a horse who isn't quite Group 1 will get found out by the rising ground in the final two furlongs.
Three things define the recent Lockinge profile:
- Genuine miler stamina -- the race is one mile but the Newbury rise tests like 9 furlongs.
- Class held over from age 3 -- horses who were Group 1-placed at three dominate the recent roll. First-timers stepping up in grade rarely get the job done.
- Course form -- horses with previous Newbury form (Greenham, Hungerford, juvenile efforts here) tend to handle the rise better than horses arriving cold.
Age profile of recent winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lead Artist | 4 | J&T Gosden | 17/2 |
| 2024 | Audience | 4 | J&T Gosden | 22/1 |
| 2023 | Modern Games | 4 | C Appleby | 3/1F |
| 2022 | Baaeed | 4 | W Haggas | 4/9F |
| 2021 | Palace Pier | 4 | J Gosden | 1/2F |
| 2020 | Not run | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | Mustashry | 6 | Sir M Stoute | 9/1 |
| 2018 | Rhododendron | 4 | A O'Brien | 10/3F |
| 2017 | Ribchester | 4 | R Fahey | 7/4F |
| 2016 | Belardo | 5 | R Varian | 8/1 |
Trend: 4yos have won 7 of the last 9 run renewals (78%) [Wikipedia + Geegeez 2025 Trends + OLBG]. Only Belardo (5yo, 2016) and Mustashry (6yo, 2019) -- Mustashry was the first 6yo winner since Rakti (2005). Geegeez 12-year lens: "9 of the last 11 winners were aged 4. 7 of last 11 winners were favourites or joint-favourites; 7 of last 11 top 3 in betting."
Top 6 contenders for the 2026 Lockinge
1. Field Of Gold (J&T Gosden, 4yo grey by Kingman) -- the favourite
OR 125 [Sky Sports 24 April card]. Best price: 10/3 BoyleSports post-Sandown 24 April; was 9/4 favourite Bet365 ante-post 22 April; 9/2 (Racing-Odds 26 March -- stale).
Last run: 2nd in the Group 2 bet365 Mile, Sandown 24 April 2026, beaten 3L by Opera Ballo, made up ground from rear, bled from nose post-race.
2025: Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas + Group 1 St James's Palace; 2nd 2,000 Guineas; weak 4th Sussex; 5th QEII.
John Gosden (Racing Post, 24 April): "He needed the race but he's run a nice race and the Lockinge will remain the plan... you'll never beat a front-runner around here spotting them a lead like that."
2. Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby, 5yo by Dubawi) -- the champion
OR 125 [Sky Sports 10 April]. Best price: 11/4 Bet365, 11/4 Unibet (Racing-Odds, last 26 March -- likely drifted slightly post-Maker's Mark) [TBC -- re-verify].
Last run: luckless 4th Group 1 Maker's Mark Mile, Keeneland, 10 April 2026 (5/6F, badly hampered). Buick: "Well, that was a mess."
2025: Group 1 Woodbine Mile + Group 1 Breeders' Cup Mile (champion turf male); 2024 2,000 Guineas + Sussex.
3. Zeus Olympios (Karl Burke, 4yo by Night Of Thunder)
OR 120. Best price: 5/1 Coral / Ladbrokes post-Sandown [Racing Post 24 April]; 11/2 Bet365 / 9/2 Unibet (Racing-Odds 26 March).
Last run: 3rd bet365 Mile Sandown 24 April (beaten 3/4L by Field Of Gold, 3 3/4 L by Opera Ballo) -- first defeat (now 4-1-0-1). Previously beat Opera Ballo by 2 1/4 L in 2025 Group 2 Joel.
Karl Burke (Yorkshire Post 24 April): "He's finished a neck away from Field Of Gold giving him 3lb... I see no reason why we won't still head to the Lockinge. He was a few kilos heavier than he was last year and he will definitely come on for the run."
4. The Lion In Winter (Aidan O'Brien, 4yo)
Best price: 10/1 Bet365 / Unibet (Racing-Odds 26 March -- likely stale) [TBC]. 2024 Group 2 Acomb winner; recent Listed reappearance Leopardstown beat Expanded 1/2L; Lockinge target confirmed by O'Brien post-race.
5. Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal, 5yo by Camelot)
Best price: 12/1 [Sporting Life forecast 24 April]; 40/1 Racing-Odds 26 March (stale).
Last run: 5th of 6 in bet365 Mile Sandown 24 April. 2025: bet365 Mile winner; 2nd to Lead Artist in 2025 Lockinge; 3rd Prix Jacques le Marois.
6. Cicero's Gift (Charlie Hills, 4yo)
Best price: 20/1 [Sporting Life forecast 24 April]; 33/1-34 (Racing-Odds 26 March).
Last run: 6th of 6 bet365 Mile, badly beaten on reappearance. 2025: stunning Group 1 QEII Ascot Champions Day winner at 100/1.
Charlie Hills (pre-Sandown): "You've always got to be wary of the ground for him."
Other entries
More Thunder (Haggas, 14/1); Docklands (Eustace, 2025 Queen Anne winner, 14/1); Sahlan (Graffard, FR, Group 1 Moulin winner, 16/1); Opera Ballo (Appleby) -- Sandown winner but Appleby pointing him to Prix Aga Khan IV / Prix d'Ispahan, NOT Lockinge [Racing Post 24 April]; Damysus, Friendly Soul, Exposure (Gosden); Jonquil, Gladius, Never So Brave, Blue Bolt (Balding); Twain, Expanded (O'Brien); Tamfana (Menuisier -- alt Prix d'Ispahan).
Jockey bookings
| Horse | Jockey |
|---|---|
| Field Of Gold | Colin Keane (Juddmonte retained; rode Sandown) -- Lockinge ride [TBC] |
| Notable Speech | William Buick (regular) |
| Zeus Olympios | Ryan Moore (rode Sandown) |
Final Lockinge bookings [TBC pending declaration].
Last 10 winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lead Artist | 4 | J&T Gosden | 17/2 |
| 2024 | Audience | 4 | J&T Gosden | 22/1 |
| 2023 | Modern Games | 4 | C Appleby | 3/1F |
| 2022 | Baaeed | 4 | W Haggas | 4/9F |
| 2021 | Palace Pier | 4 | J Gosden | 1/2F |
| 2020 | Not run | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | Mustashry | 6 | Sir M Stoute | 9/1 |
| 2018 | Rhododendron | 4 | A O'Brien | 10/3F |
| 2017 | Ribchester | 4 | R Fahey | 7/4F |
| 2016 | Belardo | 5 | R Varian | 8/1 |
Headlines:
- Age: 4yos have won 7 of the last 9 run renewals (78%). Only Belardo (5yo, 2016) and Mustashry (6yo, 2019) bucked the trend.
- Market: 7 of last 11 winners were favourites or joint-favourites; 7 of last 11 in the top 3 of betting [Geegeez].
- Implication for 2026: Field Of Gold, Zeus Olympios, The Lion In Winter and (5yo) Notable Speech all fit profile; statistically the 4yo Classic-form types are favoured.
Trends scorecard for the 2026 Lockinge
Five patterns -- each verifiable against the last decade of winners -- decide most Lockinge renewals. Here's how the leading six contenders stack up. Tick = passes the trend, cross = doesn't.
| Trend (basis: last 9-11 winners) | Field Of Gold | Notable Speech | Zeus Olympios | Lion In Winter | Dancing Gemini | Cicero's Gift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Aged 4 (78% of recent winners) | Yes (4) | No (5) | Yes (4) | Yes (4) | No (5) | Yes (4) |
| 2. Group 1 win on CV | Yes (Irish 2,000G + St James's Palace) | Yes (BC Mile + Woodbine) | No (G2 only) | No (Acomb G3) | No (G1 placed not won) | Yes (QEII 2025) |
| 3. Top 3 in current betting (7 of last 11 winners) | Yes (10/3F) | Yes (11/4) | Yes (5/1) | No (10/1) | No (12/1) | No (20/1) |
| 4. Prep run within ~30 days | Yes (Sandown 24 Apr) | No (Keeneland 10 Apr; ~36 days out) | Yes (Sandown 24 Apr) | Yes (Listed reappearance) | Yes (Sandown 24 Apr) | Yes (Sandown 24 Apr) |
| 5. Trainer won the Lockinge in last 5 years | Yes (Gosden 2024 + 2025) | Yes (Appleby 2023) | No | No (O'Brien last 2018) | No | No |
| TOTAL passing | 5 / 5 | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 | 2 / 5 | 1 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
Reading the scorecard
- Field Of Gold ticks every trend box. Confirms what the market already says (he's favourite at 10/3) but worth flagging for readers who weigh trend signals heavily: there is no Lockinge angle the trends say is missing from his case.
- Three contenders score 3/5 -- Notable Speech, Zeus Olympios, Cicero's Gift. They each fail different trends and so reward / oppose for different reasons:
- Notable Speech has the class but the 5yo age trend (only 2 of last 9 winners) and the 36-day gap since his last race both work against him. The market price (11/4) suggests bookmakers weigh his class CV more heavily than the trends.
- Zeus Olympios ticks four boxes once you accept his lack of a Group 1 win as the gap. The Sandown form line (3rd, beaten 3/4L by Field Of Gold) and the trainer's "few kilos heavier, will come on" quote are the on-form side of his case.
- Cicero's Gift is the contrarian read: trends-friendly profile (right age, G1 winner, recent run) at 20/1, but the Sandown reappearance (6th of 6, badly beaten) is the obvious counter. "You've always got to be wary of the ground for him" (Hills, pre-Sandown) is the live caveat.
What this scorecard is and isn't
It's a transparent way to read the field against patterns the last decade of Lockinge winners share -- not a model output, not a value detector, not a tip. The trends are public stats anyone can verify. Horses passing 4 or 5 trends are simply the ones whose profile most resembles past winners; horses passing 1 or 2 are the ones who'd need to break the pattern.
For our broader honest take on what data-driven racing analysis actually delivers in practice -- including a backtested write-up of an in-house ML model -- see we built an AI horse racing model. Short version: the bookies are very good, trends narrow the field but don't beat them, and we're transparent about that.
Lockinge -> Royal Ascot Queen Anne correlation (same year, last 10 renewals)
| Year | Lockinge winner | Same-year Queen Anne | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lead Artist | Ran (QA won by Docklands 14/1; Rosallion 2nd; Cairo 3rd) -- outside frame [TBC] | No |
| 2024 | Audience | 5th (QA won Charyn 100/30F) | No |
| 2023 | Modern Games | Ran, out of frame (QA won Triple Time 33/1) | No |
| 2022 | Baaeed | WON QA (1/6F) | Win |
| 2021 | Palace Pier | WON QA (2/7F) | Win |
| 2020 | No race | -- | -- |
| 2019 | Mustashry | DNR / no frame [TBC] | No |
| 2018 | Rhododendron | DNR / no frame [TBC] | No |
| 2017 | Ribchester | WON QA (11/10F) | Win |
| 2016 | Belardo | DNR / no frame [TBC] | No |
Headline: 3 of 9 run renewals delivered the Lockinge -> Queen Anne double (Ribchester 2017, Palace Pier 2021, Baaeed 2022) -- ~33% strike rate; ~36% top-2 finish.
Editorial note: Wikipedia's claim that "the last to win both in the same year was Frankel (2012)" is incorrect post-Palace Pier 2021 and Baaeed 2022 -- flagged for editorial.
What the Lockinge tells us about Sussex / Goodwood
Goodwood's Sussex Stakes (Group 1, 1 mile, 3yo+) in late July is the next big mile championship. [TBC: recent Lockinge winners' Sussex form -- requires Racing Post archive.]
Our 2026 verdict
The 2026 Lockinge looks the strongest renewal in years: a probable showdown between Field Of Gold (just denied at Sandown, sure to improve, ground key), Notable Speech (champion miler, race-fitness concerns after the troubled Maker's Mark 4th), Zeus Olympios (record gone but ran with credit conceding weight), and emerging Coolmore prospect The Lion In Winter.
Trends point firmly to a 4-year-old (78% 2016-25 ex-2020) from the front of the market -- which puts Field Of Gold, Zeus Olympios and The Lion In Winter in the right profile bracket. The Queen Anne double is achievable but only hit 3 times in the last decade.
Win: [TBC pending the Sandown form line being independently rated.] Each-way: Zeus Olympios -- the Karl Burke 4yo is 5/1 post-Sandown. Trainer's "few kilos heavier than last year, will come on for the run" quote is a textbook spring 4yo angle. Lay / oppose: [TBC]
Ante-post angle: re-verify on race week
Pricing caveat: Bookmaker pages aggregating Lockinge odds (e.g. racing-odds.com) were last refreshed pre-Sandown bet365 Mile (24 April); post-Sandown reactions reported by Racing Post / Yorkshire Post are blended into the contender prices above. Editor must re-verify Star Sports / William Hill / Bet365 prices direct on race week (12-15 May).
Where to bet
Independent specialist bookmaker Star Sports runs racecourse pitches at every major UK Festival including Newbury. Star Sports withdrew Best Odds Guaranteed in December 2024 [OLBG 2026; Football Whispers 2026] -- value at the firm now comes through curated Star Boosts on selected runners (not market-wide) plus selective race-day money-back specials.
The welcome offer is BET20GET10 -- GBP 20 single bet at evens or greater unlocks GBP 5 free bet on settlement, then a further GBP 5 [Bookies Bonuses February 2026]. Specific Lockinge promotions for 2026 had not been announced as of 29 April; Star Sports historically lands meeting-specific promos within a week of the target fixture, so check starsports.bet and @StarSports_Bet between 11 May and the off.
For the wider read on Star Sports as a specialist racing operator, see our Star Sports review and the Ben Keith profile.
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