Expert - Bill Esdaile
Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races.

Expert Column for Lockinge Stakes Day (S2) (Bill Esdaile)

S2-3 London Gold Cup

There are only a few stronger 3YO handicaps throughout the UK Flat season than the London Gold Cup over 2,000m, and the winner often goes on to become a Group-class horse.

William Haggas’ DESERT HERO has already run at Group level as a 2YO, when finishing a highly respectable third in the G3 Solario Stakes over 1,400m at Sandown last August. Given his pedigree it’s not surprising the son of SEA THE STARS found that trip on the short side, and he looked to appreciate the step up in distance when going on to win a novice over 1,800m at Redcar in November. This further step up in trip should suit even more, and given the form of his Sandown run, he could be comfortably ahead of his opening handicap mark.

BERTINELLI has the advantage of a run already this season, which saw him finish runner-up in a strong small-field event at Cork over 2,027m last month. That form has since been boosted with the winner going on to finish second in Listed company, so Aidan O’Brien’s runner warrants plenty of respect. He looks a strong stayer at this trip and should appreciate the good ground.

Roger Varian won this race in 2017 and looks to have another appealing candidate in EXOPLANET, who caught the eye when keeping on for second in a novice race, ran on soft ground, over this course and distance last month. That form has been franked since, with the winner going on to win in Listed company, and there should be more to come from this colt with that run behind him and now returned to better ground.

Lower down the weights, SILVER SWORD is an interesting contender for rookie trainer Dylan Cunha. This gelding showed a good level of form at Newmarket over 1,600m at the backend of last season when finishing by 4.8 lengths behind a smart Godolphin horse, MILITARY ORDER, who also defeated EXOPLANET at Newbury in April. He was an impressive winner at Southwell over 1,612m on his reappearance and while that form needs improving on, he looks interesting off an attractive opening handicap mark.

LIEBER POWER was never sighted on reappearance in a strong conditions event at Kempton over 1,600m, but he was sent off favourite that day and better was clearly expected. Now stepping up in trip, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a much-improved performance.

SELECTIONS: 5. DESERT HERO, 2. BERTINELLI, 3. EXOPLANET, 13. SILVER SWORD & 8. LIEBER POWER

S2-4 Lockinge Stakes

Having won seven of his 14 career starts, MODERN GAMES comes to the G1 Lockinge Stakes with the best record over 1,600m. With three G1 wins over this distance as a 3YO, and another at the end of his 2YO campaign, MODERN GAMES is proven as a top tier miler. Having run a pleasing race when second in last month’s G1 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes over 1,600m, the ultra-consistent son of DUBAWI looks the one to beat here.

The lesser-exposed LAUREL merits serious consideration as she has shown signs of being similarly talented, having now won over 1600m on three of her four starts for John & Thady Gosden. A recent 3.5 length win on the polytrack at Kempton over 1,600m will have set her up well for this and she should be able to reproduce that form on the turf, while the likely good ground will suit too. The Gosdens have a good record in this race, and their filly should go well.

MY PROSPERO, from the stable of last year’s winning trainer William Haggas, won over this course and distance on his reappearance last year. He lacks a prep run compared to his main rivals, but he has won here over 1,600m when fresh, so that shouldn’t be too much of a concern for the son of IFFRAAJ. He’s another contender who has the form to be involved in this contest.

JADOOMI, who also runs for the first time this season, goes well fresh having won two of his three starts after an extended break. A lightly raced and consistent type, he has five wins and five places from 10 career starts and was last seen finishing a good third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over 1,600m. He may prefer the ground on the softer side but has run decent races on a sounder surface in the past and is capable of another good account.

Richard Hannon last won the Lockinge Stakes in 2015. This year, he will be hopping for CHINDIT. The son of WOOTTON BASSETT won over 1,400m at this track on his 3YO debut and has since placed here over 1,600m, which suggests he has a chance. His won in the Listed Paradise Stakes over 1,600m two weeks ago should have left him spot on for this and he could easily outrun his double figure price.

SELECTIONS: 8. MODERN GAMES, 13. LAUREL, 10. MY PROSPERO, 4. JADOOMI & 3. CHINDIT

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