JLT Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)

The first of 33 G 1’s in England this year.

Olympic Glory is a dual G1 winner having taken the Champion’s Mile at Ascot at the backend of last year and as a two year the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over 7 f at Lonchamp also at the end of the season. Both were won with considerable ease in the ground hence the label of soft ground horse. That fails to take account of what was probably his best run when second to Moonlight Cloud at Deauville in the Jacques Le Marois over a mile at Deauville on good.

Last year the new kid on the block for Coolmore was Declaration Of War and he was backed for this as defeat was out of the question. Verrazano comes from America with a similar reputation as Declaration Of War when he came from France. The difference here is that this will be the first time Verrazano runs on turf. He went off favourite for last years Kentucky Derby disappointing but bouncing back with a top class performance in winning the Haskell Invitational by 9 3/4 L. He’s been beaten three times since in the Travers Stakes, Breeders Cup Mile and Cigar Mile. That no doubt cemented the decision to transfer to Europe.

Of the others Montridge has form to suggest he’s will make a decent four year old and connections expect he’ll come on for the run when second to Tullius at Sandown in the Bet365 Mile.

Another horse on the up could be Pat Deegan’s Sruthan who put in a good performance recently at the Curragh in the Gladness Stakes.

The German raider Chopin is no mug. He was quietly fancied for last years Derby on the back of big winning distances in two prep runs. He’s lightly raced and was second in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf in April.

Is it worth taking Olympic Glory on at the even money price he is now?

The depth of the race suggests maybe not. Verrazano will probably prove himself the real deal but the market indicates little confidence that today will be his day. Olympic Glory might be the best horse in the race but he is vulnerable having lost 4 from 6 attempts in G1 company.

With 8 runners and 3 to be placed Sruthan at 22/1 offers a nice alternative from a punting point of view.

Recommendation : Sruthan 22/1 EW