Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including Lockinge Stakes fancies

---

Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, 14:35 - Back Zeus Olympios @ 10/34.33

Exciting colt Zeus Olympios lost his unbeaten tag when suffering his first defeat at Sandown last month, but should improve for his first outing of the season and could have too much class for his rivals in this field. This is a tough race, but the son of Night Of Thunder appeared as a Group One winner in the making last term, shaping with great potential and recording Group Two success over high class Opera Ballo at Newmarket. Whilst he didn't fire on his seasonal return, he should be better equipped this time around with the benefit of race fitness on his side. He remains unexposed for Karl Burke and is open to any amount of improvement, with the ceiling of his ability unknown.

---

Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, 14:35 - Back The Lion In Winter E/W @ 13/27.50

Another to consider in the highly competitive feature on the card at Newbury is The Lion In Winter for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle representative, who sports first-time cheekpieces here, enjoyed an unbeaten campaign as a juvenile with two wins, including the Acomb Stakes at York, and was fancied as a potentially future Derby winner.

Last term, he lacked consistency, failing to justify odds of 8/111.73 on his return in the Dante Stakes, failing to handle the occasion, before disappointing in the Epsom Classic. A drop in trip saw him return to form in France, when narrowly denied at Group One level, and he again went close in top company over a mile at Longchamp, when beaten half-a-length by Sahlan at huge odds.

Another second and third at the highest level during the latter stages of the season confirmed he is still a capable performer, and he made a winning return in Listed company at Leopardstown when last seen, which should set him up nicely for his return to this level.

Whilst the son of Sea The Stars doesn't appear to be the most straightforward horse, and he can lack consistency, he is a top talent on his day and is deserving of a Group One prize. He has been up against plenty of tough rivals in the past, and often held his own, therefore cannot be discounted and warrants each-way consideration for a master trainer, who has enjoyed a fruitful May so far, particularly with runners in Britain.

---

Bet of the day: Newbury, 15:10 - Back Albert Einstein @ 5/23.50

Wootton Bassett colt Albert Einstein hasn't been able to get off the mark in two runs this term, and build on his promising couple of runs as a juvenile, but a drop back to 6f could allow him to be seen to better effect and he's of interest for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, should he take that route.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained contender could be keeping the faith in considering the promise he showed when winning his maiden and a Curragh Group Two last May. He was likely to need the run on his return in Listed company in his penultimate start, and was far from disgraced behind Alparslan and Zavateri here in the Greenham Stakes.

The first-time hood which was applied in his latest run is taken off here, and the shorter trip with the benefit of further race fitness and course experience could allow him to return to the winners' enclosure and resume his progression. Albert Einstein is a fine-looking, imposing colt from a top family, and it's too early to give up on him.

---

Newbury, 15:45 - Back Tierra Del Toro E/W @ 11/112.00

Ralph Beckett-trained Tierra Del Toro is an interesting contender of handicap debut from an opening mark of 95. The son of Lope De Vega could be well treated at the weights, unexposed having shown some potential in three starts to date. He finished second on debut before landing his maiden at Kempton, winning by two-lengths, and has course form following a second-placed effort over a mile here when last seen in September.

In his latest run, Tierra Del Toro chased home €400,000 purchase Look To The Stars, finishing ahead of now 105-rated Bourbon Blues, who was in receipt of 5lb and has since been narrowly denied at Group Three level.

The step up in trip could suit the gelding, who is out of mile-and-a-quarter winning Terre, a sister to top class mare Treve. Tierra Del Toro is a well-bred horse and the best could be yet to come from him.

---

Newbury, 16:20 - Back Purosangue E/W @ 12/113.00

Purosangue was luckless at Pontefract when last seen, but could take a step forward for his yard debut and first outing of the season, making appeal from a 1lb lower mark for Robert Cowell.

The five-year-old, who was formerly trained by Andrew Balding, is on a workable mark of 96 if at his best, 2lb lower than when finishing fourth as favourite in the Ayr Gold Cup last season. He has been able to be competitive from a higher rating in the past and also brings Stakes level form into this contest, putting him in with a solid each-way chance on the back of a promising reappearance.

---

Newbury, 17:00 - Back Green Triangle E/W @ 16/117.00

Four-year-old gelding Green Triangle had shown potential for Joseph O'Brien earlier in his career, winning twice for his former before changing hands for 85,000gns, joining the Simon and Ed Crisford team. He did take some time to get going for his current connections but caught the eye on Meydan debut in December, and put in an excellent effort when fourth to Arabian Light in his subsequent run.

Things didn't pan out favourably for him during his time in Dubai, but he could be worth keeping the faith and is well-treated at the weights if at his best on his British return. He remains open to further improvement and is more than capable of posing a threat from a rating of 88 under Saffie Osborne.

With five places available in this competitive handicap, Green Triangle warrants consideration and shouldn't be discounted as he drops back in trip.

---

Newbury, 17:00 - Back Ancient Rome E/W @ 25/126.00

Ancient Rome was never able to get into a position from which he could threaten on seasonal reappearance here last month, but, with a more favourable trip, from a 2lb lower mark, he could be able to get into contention.

The Charlie Hills-trained contender is on a workable rating should he be able to find the gaps and shouldn't be overlooked. He has plenty of class on his day, having shown form at a higher level and in handicaps from a higher mark, and holds each-way claims if on a going day.

---

Thirsk, 17:25 - Back Perfect Part E/W @ 10/111.00

Brian Ellison-trained filly Perfect Part is winless since a shock 125/1126.00 victory on debut but has shown ability since, proving it was no fluke, including at Stakes level. She has been luckless in handicaps to date but has dropped to a mark of 85 as a result, putting her in with solid claims at the weights under Ben Robinson.

On reappearance, the daughter of Mehmas put in a brilliant effort to finish fourth at odds of 50/151.00 in a competitive, higher-class handicap at Doncaster, and should be capable of making her presence felt in this field.

---

Thirsk, 17:25 - Back Glenfinnan E/W @ 8/19.00

Six-year-old gelding Glenfinnan could be worth giving another chance to as he bids to return to form for Michael Dods in this 7f contest. He's now 13lb lower than his last winning mark, 2lb below his rating when second at the Irish Champions Festival last season, making him well-treated at the weights if able to put his latest efforts behind him.

This distance appears to be his optimum and a return to form is plausible for the likeable gelding, who has shown a good level of form previously. He's one to note each-way and could bounce back in the hands of Connor Beasley.

---

Uttoxeter, 18:50 - Back Minella Rescue @ 13/27.50

Course-and-distance winner Minella Rescue won this race twelve months ago from the same mark of 133, and should be capable of improving on his latest efforts now eased in class for Gary Hanmer.

The eight-year-old is a formidable performer on his day but things haven't worked out in deep waters for him lately. He is back on a mark from which he's proven as he bids to defend his title in this race, and could be worth keeping the faith in under James Davies.

---

Now read more horse racing columns here

---