Talking Horses: Jadoomi can spring surprise for Crisfords in Lockinge

M odern Games, who took the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland last autumn, is the only previous winner at the highest level in a 13-strong field for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, but he is only third-best on Timeform’sratings and seems ideally suited by tight US tracks and lightning-fast ground.

He is an underwhelming favourite a result, not least as he faces several progressive rivals with considerable scope for improvement on their form to date.

Laurel was less than a length behind the winner in the Group One Sun Chariot Stakes on just her third start last October, while My Prospero drops back to a mile after running a huge race behind Bay Bridge and Adayar in last season’s Champion Stakes.

At the likely prices, though, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Jadoomi (3.35) could be worth backing to take another significant step forward.

Jadoomi was supplemented for last season’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on the back of three straight wins, and more than justified the gamble by finishing third, just a short-head behind Modern Games, after leading for much of the way. He has just 10 runs in the book at five years of age and looks overpriced at around 8-1 for a breakthrough Group One success.

Newbury 1.50 The step up to a mile – on testing ground – was a risk worth taking for the previously unbeaten Noble Style in the 2,000 Guineas last time out. He ran well to finish sixth and the return to sprinting here should underline his leading claims for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next month.

Newmarket 2.05 Gulmarg is impressively consistent and the form of his latest run was franked when the winner, Surely Not, went in again at Chester last week.

Newbury 2.25 Haskoy has a few pounds to find with Yibir on the