Flat Racing column 2026: Lockinge preview ahead of Saturday's big race

In his latest Focus On The Flat column, Races Now's Adam Smith takes a look at this coming weekend's big race, the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury – including two official selections.

Zeus Olympios worthy of a second chance?

I spent most of the weekend thinking about Zeus Olympios (yes, I live a sad existence).

Primarily, trying to decide if his run at Sandown last month was simply not good enough and he isn't a top drawer horse. Or, if it was a performance full of promise that he is sure to come on from in a race that was tactical and the two horses in front of him are very good.

Going off 100/30 and finishing three and three quarter lengths third in a Group Two on your first run of the season isn't disastrous by any means. But perhaps I expected more, given he went into the race unbeaten in four starts and the final half a furlong was pretty much hands and heels. Maybe the race was already gone and temporary jockey Ryan Moore had a long season in mind?

And we should remember that when Zeus Olympios was fit and firing at the back end of last season, he slammed Opera Ballo (the winner at Sandown) by over two lengths, going past him coming out of the dip like he was stood still. Opera Ballo was a rated 116 at the time. Yes, Opera Ballo has clearly improved since last September – but so should Zeus Olympios, given he had only his second start in August last year.

The first and second from Sandown are not running at Newbury this weekend as Opera Ballo goes to France and Field Of Gold, who is now becoming disappointing generally, is injured again. Plus, I am more than happy to oppose the current top two in the Lockinge market.

So I have answered my own question, I suppose. It has taken me a whole weekend and four paragraphs to do so. Zeus Olympios is a bet for the Lockinge and I'm happy to back him ante post four days from the race at 100/30.

2026 Lockinge has opposable market leaders

Damysus was 25/1 for the Lockinge when the markets opened,. He's now 5/2 and is a horse I'm happy to take on.

There is good reason he has shortened up. He won the nine furlong Earl Of Sefton with ease at Newmarket last month. A career-best performance no doubt, but let's not get carried away – that was a six runner Group Three versus Kings's Gambit, who is pretty much finished, Cambridgeshire winner Boiling Point and Persica, who wants soft ground and didn't get it at Newmarket.

Damysus has never won a race over a mile, was last of 18 in the 2025 Derby and purely on official ratings is seven pounds inferior to Zeus Olympios (113 vs 120). Damysus could well be a horse on the up, and maybe connections have found the key to him, but he's not for me at 5/2 here.

Notable Speech (7/2) is a significant nine pounds superior to Damysus on official ratings and I'm also happy to oppose the Godolphin inmate.

Fourth in the Lockinge last year, fourth in the Queen Anne and then a pretty disastrous July Cup project. All in all, no wins in Europe in 2025 and that continental form is unlikely to be good enough to win this. Maybe now as a five year old he is just better suited to turning miles in easier races over in North America. Yes, he won the Breeders Cup Turf Mile last November but it wasn't a great renewal.

So I'm backing Zeus Olympios, who I expect to strip fitter and better than what we saw at Sandown and on the basis I think the top two in the market are opposable. Is there anything lurking at bigger prices, though?

Underrated Jonquil an attractive each-way angle

I do like More Thunder (14/1) generally but wonder about him staying a mile at this level, particularly on what will be his first start of the season. Expanded (33/1) was a massive eyecatcher on his return at Leopardstown and could be interesting depending on the Ballydoyle plans. They did put a pacemaker in on Monday (Mississippi River) which adds another dimension. Maybe Expanded and The Lion In Winter will both run for O'Brien?

Jonquil (20/1) is of interest and of a similar profile to last year's winner Lead Artist in that he had a bit of an under the radar three-year-old campaign in the Juddmonte colours before turning up here.

Jonquil had a more than decent 2025 given he won the Greenham, was a head second in the French Guineas and then won the Celebration Mile. It's not bad, is it? Maybe he's a forgotten horse as a result of running in America twice and Abu Dhabi thereafter.

More recently, he was a Listed winner at Ascot on his return this year in a race I can't believe he was allowed to go off 100/30 for. Clearly he'll need to step up on that particular piece of form, but the best is yet to come from Jonquil and I could certainly see him running well in the Lockinge at a price.

Smido's best bet for the 2026 Lockinge Stakes

1pt win - Zues Olympios - 7/2 (Coral)

0.5pt EW - Jonquil - 20/1 (various - 1/5 odds, 3 places)

Total staked - 2pts

Prices correct at 2.15pm on Monday May 11th, 2026. 18+ only. BeGambleAware.org.

Follow Races Now on X and YouTube!