The Lockinge seems full of horses racing under less-than-ideal conditions, with Rhododendron best over further, Addeybb unproven in this class and on quick ground and stranded on the wing, Limato a seven-furlong specialist who has failed here before, and I think a combined lay of all three could prove a winning strategy.
That trio represent a 1.83 chance at current odds, and I’d certainly rather back the rest of the field at odds against.
The rest of Newbury is very tricky, but it’s very surprising that Aidan O’Brien’s The Irish Rover is once again favourite after finishing last when a 1/7 shot at Ascot recently.
It’s possible to point to a slow start or even the racing surface there, but it really does not pay to make excuses for horses who manage to lose at such short odds, and today’s race is much better than the Ascot affair.
