Straight From The Horse’s Mouth: The Lockinge Stakes

How much do the connections of your Lockinge Stakes fancies rate their mounts? In our feature ‘Straight From The Horse’s Mouth’ we aim to collate, in one article, the best of the quotes concerning a selection of entrants ahead of Saturday’s Newbury feature race.

Night Of Thunder

Trainer Richard Hannon: ‘In the end we decided against giving Night Of Thunder a racecourse gallop, we worked him at home and he really impressed us.

‘He should be fit enough to win, although he will improve for the run to a point and we hope that he will keep improving through the season.

‘He’s a Classic winner – he deserves the utmost respect for that – and he would be right up there with all the star milers that we have had over recent years.’ [Racing Post, 14th May]

Integral

Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park Stud managing director: ‘She was a phenomenal race filly last year. We may as well go there [Lockinge Stakes] for her early season target and we can decide where to go from there.

‘She’s still not an overly robust filly but she has done physically well and has strengthened a little bit.

‘Sir Michael [Stoute, trainer] seems happy enough with her progress over the winter, so fingers crossed she can run respectably.’ [Sky Sports, 13th May]

Toormore

Trainer Richard Hannon: ‘Toormore will improve for the run. He is less of a flashy worker than Night Of Thunder and though he won first time out last season, that was only a Group 3 so this is a much stronger race.

‘He came back to form on his final run of last season and if he were to repeat that he would go very close on Saturday. I hope that we have got him back to near his best again now.’ [Racing Post, 14th May]

Custom Cut

Jockey Daniel Tudhope: ‘Custom Cut is in with a chance in what is a record big field of 18. Nothing fazes him, he’s uncomplicated and he always gives his best. He goes on any ground though I wouldn’t be averse to a drop of rain over Berkshire before tomorrow.’ [Yorkshire Post, 15th May]

Moohaarib

Trainer Marco Botti: ‘Moohaarib came out of Ascot [Listed Paradise Stakes] really well and the plan is to run at Newbury.

‘I think that all of us were under the impression that he needed a bit of give in the ground because of his knee action. We were a little surprised at Ascot because the ground was very fast that day and all the jockeys that have rode him said he wants a bit of cut.

‘You would have to be impressed with the way he won and he is improving all the time. He has a pedigree that suggests that he will get better with time and he is in great order at the moment.’  [Newburyracecourse.co.uk, 11th May]

Here Comes When

Trainer Andrew Balding: I think Here Comes When is an overlooked horse. He has twice won at Group 2 level and ran a good trial when he was second on his reappearance at Sandown last month. He can take a grip in his races and any rain will help.’ [Newbury Today, 13th May]

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