James Maxwell
Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-05-17
The BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes ran 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.
🏁 RESULT (16 May 2026): Notable Speech (Appleby / Buick) won at 2/1F for his 5th career G1, beating More Thunder (Haggas) and Zeus Olympios (Burke). 6/4F Rosallion (Hannon / Levey) flopped out of the top 5 — the biggest favourite-flop of the spring. Full race report: Lockinge Stakes 2026 Result.
Pre-race declarations (Mon 11 May). 9 runners declared. Field Of Gold (J & T Gosden) was OUT of the Lockinge — the 2025 Irish 2,000 Guineas + St James's Palace Stakes winner is now 4yo (ineligible for the 3yo Irish 2000G) and connections are deciding between Queen Anne and Prince of Wales's targets. Rosallion (Richard Hannon / Sean Levey, 6/4F) -- the 2024 Irish 2000 Guineas + St James's Palace Stakes winner returning at 5yo -- was the pre-race market leader. Notable Speech (C Appleby / William Buick, 4/1, 2/1F at the off), Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal / Ryan Moore, 11/4), Tamfana (13/2), Persica (Hannon), Lead Artist (Gosden / Oisin Murphy) + 3 outsiders completed the line-up. Race renamed BoyleSports Lockinge with Ladies Day for 2026. Off-time 14:35 BST, was live on ITV1 + ITVX. For race-day-of tips see our Lockinge Stakes 2026 Tips cluster.
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 remained in contention after the first scratching stage at noon on Tuesday 28 April 2026 [Newbury Racecourse "18 Remain In Contention" 28 April]. Final declarations closed Monday 11 May with 9 runners.
The 2026 race shaped into a strong renewal — without Field Of Gold (now 4yo, ineligible for the 3yo Irish 2000G; older-horse G1 route TBC), the pre-race editorial centrepiece was Rosallion's 5yo return after a long layoff (which ended in a flop, with Notable Speech winning at 2/1F):
- Rosallion (R Hannon / Sean Levey) -- three-time G1 winner (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere 2023 as 2yo; Irish 2000 Guineas + St James's Palace Stakes 2024). Returning at 5yo from an extended absence; 6/4F best price (Coral / Bet365 / William Hill) [Sporting Life Lockinge ante-post grid, 11 May].
- 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. 4/1.
- Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal) -- 5yo, 2025 Sandown Mile winner; 2nd to Lead Artist in 2025 Lockinge. Ryan Moore booked. 11/4.
- Lead Artist (J & T Gosden) -- the 2025 Lockinge winner returning at 5yo, Oisin Murphy now booked.
- The Lion In Winter (Aidan O'Brien) -- 4yo, the Coolmore representative.
Trends point firmly to a four-year-old: 4yos won 7 of the last 9 run renewals (78%) [Wikipedia + Geegeez 2025 Trends + OLBG]. In 2026 the field has only 1 4yo (The Lion In Winter); the rest are 5yos -- a major trend break worth flagging. The 5yo Rosallion at 6/4F is therefore the trends-against-favourite worth respecting against the demographic pattern.
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 (post-Mon-11-May declarations)
Important: Field Of Gold (J & T Gosden) -- the pre-meeting 10/3 favourite -- WITHDREW from the Lockinge. As a 4yo he is ineligible for the 3yo-only Irish 2000G; his 2026 plan is the older-miler G1 route (Queen Anne / Prince of Wales's TBC). The trends-cleanest profile in the field was therefore Rosallion's (who then flopped on race-day — see Lockinge Result).
1. Rosallion (R Hannon / Sean Levey, 5yo) -- the new favourite
OR 119. Best price: 6/4F Coral / Bet365 / William Hill [Sporting Life Lockinge ante-post grid, 11 May].
Career G1 record -- three-time Group 1 winner:
- Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) at Longchamp 2023 (Arc day, as a 2yo)
- Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) at the Curragh 2024
- St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot 2024
This is the strongest Class 1 form-line in the declared 2026 Lockinge field.
Last runs: finished 3rd in the 2025 Lockinge Stakes (G1) on his comeback from over 300 days off the course [BloodHorse]; subsequently 2nd to Docklands in the 2025 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The 2026 Lockinge is his seasonal reappearance after a winter break.
Sean Levey is the retained ride -- he has partnered Rosallion in every one of his career starts. The Hannon-Levey combination is the headline retained partnership of the 2026 declared field.
2. Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby, 5yo by Dubawi) -- the champion
OR 125. Best price: 4/1 Bet365 [Sporting Life 11 May].
Last run: luckless 4th Group 1 Maker's Mark Mile, Keeneland, 10 April 2026 (5/6F, badly hampered). Buick's reaction: "Well, that was a mess."
2025: Group 1 Woodbine Mile + Group 1 Breeders' Cup Mile (champion turf male); 2024 2,000 Guineas + Sussex.
Editorial read: The Lockinge is the most natural return for the Eclipse Award-winning miler. The 36-day gap from the Keeneland run is the only formal trend miss (most Lockinge winners run within 30 days); the class cushion offsets it on paper.
3. Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal, 5yo by Camelot) -- Ryan Moore booked
Best price: 11/4 Coral [Sporting Life 11 May]. Ryan Moore booked -- the headline jockey change of the build-up.
Last run: 5th of 6 in Group 2 bet365 Mile Sandown 24 April. 2025: bet365 Mile winner; 2nd to Lead Artist in 2025 Lockinge -- exactly the form line readers should respect for a returning runner-up.
Editorial read: The Ryan Moore jockey switch is the strongest in-form yard signal of the build-up. Teal's stable has been quiet through April; the Moore booking specifically for the Lockinge is a confidence statement.
4. Lead Artist (J & T Gosden, 5yo) -- the 2025 Lockinge winner returning
Best price: 9/1-10/1 [Sporting Life 11 May]. Oisin Murphy now booked -- a jockey swap from the 2025 Lockinge winning ride.
Last run: [TBC pending recent-form check]. The 2025 Lockinge winner from a 17/2 SP -- one of the longest-priced Lockinge winners of recent vintage. Gosden's defender returns after a year of campaigning; whether at 5yo the same form-line holds is the live question.
5. The Lion In Winter (Aidan O'Brien, 4yo)
Best price: 10/1 [Sporting Life 11 May]. 2024 Group 2 Acomb winner; recent Listed reappearance Leopardstown beat Expanded 1/2L; Lockinge target confirmed by O'Brien.
Editorial read: The only declared 4yo in the field. With the 4yo demographic trend (78% of recent winners) interrupted by the 8/9 5yo balance, the Lion In Winter is the trends-AGAINST-demographic Coolmore representative. At 10/1 the price is fair rather than value.
6. Tamfana (Menuisier, 5yo)
Best price: 13/2 [Sporting Life 11 May]. 2025 Falmouth Stakes winner. The Menuisier representative; a meaningful late-career miler at Group 1 level.
Editorial read: The form-line is solid but the 13/2 price expresses bookmaker uncertainty about how she'll handle the Newbury straight 1m after a typically wider European route.
Other entries
Persica (R Hannon) -- Rosallion's stablemate, the Hannon 2-handed read; Sahlan (Graffard FR, 16/1) -- the French raider with G1 Moulin credentials; Cicero's Gift (Hills, 16/1-20/1) -- 2025 QEII winner at 100/1, badly beaten Sandown reappearance.
Confirmed non-runners / reroutes:
| Horse | Trainer | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Field Of Gold | J & T Gosden | 4yo, ineligible for 3yo Irish 2000G; older-miler G1 route TBC |
| Opera Ballo | C Appleby | Prix Aga Khan IV / Prix d'Ispahan, NOT Lockinge |
| Zeus Olympios | K Burke | NOT declared (TBC route) |
| Docklands | H Eustace | NOT declared (2025 Queen Anne winner; route TBC) |
| More Thunder | W Haggas | NOT declared |
Jockey bookings (final)
| Horse | Jockey |
|---|---|
| Rosallion | Sean Levey (Hannon retained) |
| Notable Speech | William Buick (Appleby retained) |
| Dancing Gemini | Ryan Moore (Teal book — headline switch) |
| Lead Artist | Oisin Murphy (Gosden book) |
| The Lion In Winter | (Coolmore senior; TBC) |
| Tamfana | (Menuisier book; TBC) |
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: In 2026 only 1 of 9 declared is a 4yo (The Lion In Winter). The 78% 4yo trend is therefore structurally interrupted by demography -- one of the 8 declared 5yos will have to win for the race to find a winner. This is the most age-trend-against renewal in the modern record.
Trends scorecard for the 2026 Lockinge
Five patterns -- each verifiable against the last decade of winners -- decide most Lockinge renewals. The 2026 field has only 1 4yo (Lion In Winter), so the age trend is interrupted by the field's demography. Here's how the leading six contenders stack up.
| Trend (basis: last 9-11 winners) | Rosallion (6/4F) | Notable Speech (4/1) | Dancing Gemini (11/4) | Lead Artist (9/1) | Lion In Winter (10/1) | Tamfana (13/2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Aged 4 (78% of recent winners) | No (5yo) | No (5yo) | No (5yo) | No (5yo) | Yes (4yo) | No (5yo) |
| 2. Group 1 win on CV | Yes (3x G1 — Lagardere 2023, Irish 2000G + SJP 2024) | Yes (BC Mile + Woodbine) | No (G1 placed not won) | Yes (2025 Lockinge G1) | No (Acomb G3) | Yes (Falmouth G1) |
| 3. Top 3 in current betting (7 of last 11 winners) | Yes (6/4F) | Yes (4/1) | Yes (11/4) | No (5th-6th) | No (10/1) | No (5th) |
| 4. Prep run within ~30 days | No (no Sandown prep) | No (36 days from Keeneland) | Yes (Sandown 24 Apr) | TBC | Yes (Listed reappearance Leopardstown) | TBC |
| 5. Trainer won the Lockinge in last 5 years | No (Hannon last 2007) | Yes (Appleby 2023) | No | Yes (Gosden 2024 + 2025) | No (O'Brien last 2018) | No |
| TOTAL passing | 2 / 5 | 3 / 5 | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
Reading the scorecard
The 2026 Lockinge is the most trends-distributed renewal in recent memory. With Field Of Gold (would have scored 5/5) out, NO horse in the field scores more than 3/5. The age trend (78% 4yo) is structurally interrupted by the field's demography (8 of 9 declared are 5yo).
- Notable Speech (4/1) is the trends-cleanest profile at 3/5 -- the 36-day gap from Keeneland is the only formal miss. The class advantage offsets the trend miss on paper -- two G1 wins in 2025 against any of the declared rivals' single G1 wins.
- Rosallion (6/4F) ticks 2/5 -- three-time G1 winner on CV (Prix Lagardere 2023, Irish 2000 Guineas + St James's Palace 2024), top of betting. The two trend misses are age (5yo) + no prep run since the 2025 Queen Anne. At 6/4F the price expresses confidence in the trained-up freshness angle; trends do not.
- Dancing Gemini (11/4) ticks 2/5 with the Ryan Moore jockey-switch as the strongest editorial angle. Sandown 5th was disappointing but the 2025 Lockinge 2nd-place form is the form-line of record. At 11/4 each-way, Dancing Gemini is the trends-aligned each-way value pick for trends-aware bettors.
- Lead Artist (9/1) ticks 2/5 -- the 2025 Lockinge defender returning is the most editorial-rich profile in the field, but the 9/1-10/1 price expresses bookmaker uncertainty about the 5yo defence.
- The Lion In Winter (10/1) and Tamfana (13/2) sit at 2/5 each at the trends-against-favourites end of the market.
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 2026 field's demographics force a trend break regardless of which 5yo wins; only Lion In Winter as the sole 4yo can preserve the 78% 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 | 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 | No |
| 2018 | Rhododendron | DNR / no frame | No |
| 2017 | Ribchester | WON QA (11/10F) | Win |
| 2016 | Belardo | DNR / no frame | 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.
Notable 2025 detail: Rosallion was 2nd in the 2025 Queen Anne to Docklands -- so the 2026 Lockinge favourite has direct Queen Anne form on CV, even though he didn't win the Lockinge in 2025. This makes Rosallion the Queen-Anne-form-line carrier of the field, regardless of his trends-misses.
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 for the Lockinge winner. The 2024 Sussex was won by Notable Speech — who is also declared for the 2026 Lockinge. A Rosallion Lockinge win would naturally point him toward the Queen Anne defence at Royal Ascot first, with a potential Sussex bid later in the summer.
For our race-day tips with the trends-clean each-way pick see Lockinge Stakes 2026 tips.
Our 2026 verdict
The 2026 Lockinge was the most trends-distributed renewal in recent memory -- with Field Of Gold withdrawn (4yo, ineligible for the 3yo-only Irish 2000G; older-miler G1 route TBC), no horse in the declared field scored more than 3/5 on the historical trends scorecard. The 78% 4yo age trend is structurally interrupted by the 2026 field's demographics (8 of 9 declared are 5yo).
This is the kind of renewal where the value pick depends on which trend miss you weight most heavily:
- Trust the class: Notable Speech at 4/1 (Maker's Mark hard-luck story + champion turf male)
- Trust the freshness: Rosallion at 6/4F (trained-up specifically for the race, three-time G1 winner from 2023-24)
- Trust the in-form yard signal: Dancing Gemini at 11/4 (Ryan Moore jockey switch)
- Trust the trends-pure 4yo: The Lion In Winter at 10/1 (the only declared 4yo)
Win: Rosallion (6/4F) (R Hannon / Sean Levey). 2/5 trends but the Queen-Anne-form-line carrier of the field (2nd in 2025 Queen Anne to Docklands). The trained-up freshness angle from a three-time G1 winner (Lagardere 2023, Irish 2000G + St James's Palace 2024) is what the 6/4F expresses; trends-against-demographic is the price you pay for the Hannon-Levey patience. Banker for accumulator builders; marginal for win-only at 6/4F.
Each-way: Dancing Gemini (11/4) (R Teal / Ryan Moore booked). 2/5 trends + the Ryan Moore jockey-switch + the 2025 Lockinge 2nd-place form line. The Sandown 5th was disappointing but the form-line of record (2nd to Lead Artist in 2025) holds; 11/4 with 1/4 odds at 3 places returns place value across a 9-runner field.
Lay/oppose: Lead Artist at 9/1-10/1. The 2025 defender returning at 5yo is the trickiest piece of the puzzle -- a 17/2 SP last year suggests the bookmakers got him wrong then, but the Oisin Murphy jockey switch is the soft signal; if the yard genuinely fancied a defence, they'd retain the winning rider. Lay at any short price.
Sentiment watch: The 13/2 Tamfana market move. If the Menuisier filly shortens significantly in the final 24 hours, it's the late-stake-the-form signal that European backers know something about the Newbury 1m fit. Tamfana is the dark-horse value at 13/2 but the trend miss (5yo + no prep + not top 3 in betting + no Lockinge-winning trainer in last 5 years) is severe.
Ante-post angle: re-verify on race week
Pricing caveat: Race-day-eve pricing reflects 11 May final declarations; the Sandown Mile form-line (24 April) shaped the build-up but Field Of Gold's withdrawal post-Sandown reshapes the field substantially. Editor must re-verify Star Sports / William Hill / Bet365 prices direct on race week (15-16 May).
For the race-day-of tips piece see our Lockinge Stakes 2026 tips (updated 11 May with the final-declarations market).
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 11 May; Star Sports historically lands meeting-specific promos within a week of the target fixture, so check starsports.bet and @StarSports_Bet between 14 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.
For market-wide Best Odds Guaranteed, Betfred is the cleanest BOG retainer of the major UK books per our BOG comparison.
Responsible betting reminder: Use small stakes, each-way bets in big fields, and stop when you've reached your budget. For bookmaker offers, see our offers page. Free help: BeGambleAware.org.
Sources & verification
- Newbury Racecourse "18 Remain In Contention" press release (28 April 2026)
- Newbury Racecourse final declarations (11 May 2026, 9 runners)
- Sporting Life Lockinge ante-post grid (11 May 2026 race-day-eve update)
- Racing Post Lockinge Stakes archive (historical winners 2016-2025)
- geegeez.co.uk Lockinge trends archive
- Wikipedia Lockinge Stakes article (winners + Queen Anne correlation)
- OLBG 2026 — Lockinge trends summary
- Bookies Bonuses February 2026 — Star Sports welcome offer
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