Weekend Winners - Dante Meeting & Lockinge

The Dante Festival always provides some of the finest midweek racing of the season and this year’s renewal looks no different, with York once again taking centre stage ahead of a huge summer of Flat racing. The Dante Stakes has a rich history of producing Epsom Derby winners and all eyes will be on Ballydoyle’s exciting contender Christmas Day as Aidan O’Brien bids for yet another success in the race. Alongside the Classic clues, there is plenty of quality throughout the card, including a fascinating Middleton Stakes featuring last year’s winner See The Fire and Karl Burke’s progressive Fallen Angel, while the speedy juveniles clash in what looks a typically competitive Westow Stakes. Over at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, the Lockinge Stakes takes top billing with a strong Group 1 field assembled, headed by Damysus and last season’s standout performers in what promises to be a cracking weekend of action.

Thursday

3.30 York – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes (Group 2)

Despite some being underwhelmed by her comeback run, See The Fire tops the market for Andrew Balding with Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy aboard. No horse has won this race twice in its 45-year history, but she is a warm order to go back-to-back after her romp in this contest last year. However, this looks like a much deeper renewal and, despite having to concede race fitness to the favourite, this could set up nicely for FALLEN ANGEL, who has proven to be somewhat of a stable star for Karl Burke. She looks the only confirmed frontrunner in the field, so could get loose on the lead and, if this extra distance brings out further improvement, she may lead them a merry dance from the front. Diamond Rain represents the boys in blue, but she could well improve for the run, as she did last year following the Breeders’ Cup, while Red Letter rounds off the quartet but must step up on what we have seen so far.

4.05 York – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)

The feature race of the day sees eight go to post and Ballydoyle’s CHRISTMAS DAY tops the market for Ryan Moore. Eleven winners of this race have gone on to land the Epsom Derby, so it is a contest with proven history, and, after completing a hat trick in the Ballysax Stakes last time out, it is hard not to fancy Aidan O’Brien’s colt. The form of that race has since been franked after three horses in behind fought out the finish at Leopardstown on Sunday. Morshdi was a surprise winner of the Feilden Stakes, but there was no doubting his superiority when he kept on finding in the closing stages. His form has taken a slight knock since, though, so it may be the other Ballydoyle runner who follows the favourite home in Action. Wayne Lordan takes the ride, and he has some solid form despite being winless in his last three starts. I would not be surprised to see him in the thick of the action.

4.40 York – British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes (Listed Race)

Fast and furious is how this should unfold, and the draw may prove key. Despite being easy in the market, this is all about one horse for me, MANATEE MEHMAS. He could not have been more impressive when nearly breaking the track record on debut at Doncaster 19 days ago, and, after visiting the yard earlier this week, it was nice to hear how highly regarded he is. He picked up a solid horse on debut as though they were standing still, so a repeat of that performance would see him go close. Race experience is not on his side, and that is a concern, while the market suggests Aspect Island could prove tough to crack for Oisin Murphy and James Owen. He was third at the Breeders’ Cup Festival last year, so must be respected.

Friday

2.35 Newbury – BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)

Damysus will look to extend his winning streak to four in Saturday’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse as he steps up to Group 1 company following an impressive return in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse last month. John and Thady Gosden have a strong recent record in the race, although this year’s renewal looks highly competitive with the likes of Notable Speech, The Lion In Winter, and last year’s runner-up Dancing Gemini all declared. However, I was taken by MORE THUNDER last season and think he could have more to offer for William Haggas in 2026. He finished his campaign with a luckless run in France, but proved he is up to this level and could pick up the pieces here.