Al Shaqab Lockinge – Minding, Ribchester and Galileo Gold among 21 horses still in contention for the Lockinge
Aidan O'Brien's filly, who made a winning reappearance on Monday, is not certain to travel to Newbury as she also holds an entry in the Tattersalls Gold Cup a week later
TOP-CLASS filly Minding is among 21 horses standing their ground for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 20.
Last season's 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine warmed up in her bid for an eighth Group 1 triumph with a win on her seasonal reappearance at Naas on Monday.
Minding is not certain to head to Newbury with Aidan O'Brien's filly also holding an entry in the Tattersalls Gold Cup a week later.
Among O'Brien's seven possibles are Alice Springs, Deauville and Somehow while Jim Bolger's Tribal Beat is another Irish entry.
The Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester leads the home challenge along with Al Shaqab Racing's Galileo Gold who has pleased trainer Hugo Palmer in the lead up to the race.
Stablemate Home Of the Brave, owned like Ribchester, by Godolphin, is still entered after recording back-to-back victories in the Listed King Richard III Stakes at Leicester recently.
Trainer David Simcock has pencilled in Lightning Spear to start his season off in the Newbury feature after a solid campaign last year.
Winner of the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in August, he showed he could mix it at the top level when third in the QEII on Champions Day.
"Lightning Spear is a very talented horse and I feel there is more to come. The priority with him is to try and win a Group 1 in England," said Simcock.
"There is a good programme for him and he will start off in the Lockinge at Newbury, go on to the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and then we'll have a think.
"He goes on most ground and is training well."
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Others in the list include Martyn Meade's Aclaim, Dutch Connection for Charlie Hills and Roger Varian's Ennaadd.
The sole French entry is the Gianluca Bietolini-trained Dicton, who was seventh in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup in Hong Kong at the weekend.
