Ratings Update: Sea of Class enters Oaks picture

The Lockinge Stakes was the feature race at Newbury on Saturday and looked one of the most open in recent years, the first of two opportunities in Britain at Group 1 level for older milers, before they are exposed to three-year-olds. The race lacked an outstanding performer, but the form has a solid look to it, the only filly in the race Rhododendron (up 2 lb to 123) beating Lightning Spear (up 6 lb to 125) by a short head. Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old stepped up considerably on her reappearance, running as well as she ever has back at a mile, she'll presumably go for the Queen Anne next, though she has alternative engagements at Royal Ascot if desired. Addeybb (125 from 126p) failed to meet expectations, for all that he was taking another step up in grade, perhaps finding the firmer conditions against him. He had created a really good impression on his first two starts this season and will be worth another chance. Beat The Bank (remains on 125) looked in good shape beforehand, but was below form on his reappearance, while Limato (down 2 lb to 125) was not going as well as usual from a long way out.

#RUKMomentOfTheDay: Rhododendron becomes only the third ever Irish-trained winner of the @AlShaqab Lockinge Stakes @NewburyRacing.

Watch all the finishes from Newbury, Newmarket, Thirsk & Bangor-on-Dee today for free in our results & replay section ➡️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/9zQbP9tDhl

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) May 19, 2018

Earlier on the card Crystal Ocean (up 6 lb to 129p) continued his upward curve in the mile and a half Group 3, taking a big step forward in form terms beating Second Step (down 1 lb to 116) by six lengths, well suited by the return to further, and he’s clearly a contender for all the top middle distance races this summer; he has the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot as an obvious next target.

The London Gold Cup is a three-year-old handicap with an impressive recent roll of honour, though whether this renewal will prove so illustrious is open to doubt, the winner Communique (up 8 lb to 98p) breaking his duck off a mark of just 84, though perhaps significantly he was one of just two runners with a Royal Ascot pattern entry. Masaarr (remains on 108p) was all the rage in the market, and although he failed to come up to expectations over the two furlong longer trip, he wasn't well positioned in a race where it paid to be handy, and he is surely worth another chance.

The valuable six furlong minor event – worth £20,000 more than the National Stakes – was won by The Irish Rover (up 10 lb to 100p) in good style. He was much improved from his display at Ascot, rather more professional and running to a useful level, and he will presumably be aimed at something at Royal Ascot, likely to cope with being dropped back to five furlongs if needs be.

There was plenty to like about Sea of Class’s (106p from94p) win in the mile and a quarter listed race, stepping up significantly on her debut effort to open her account up in grade. She was heavily backed near the off, and looked a smart filly in the making, showing too much speed for her opponents in a tactical race. Sea of Class is bred to stay further and the Oaks may well be tempting, though her other Group 1 entries are in the Coronation Stakes and Pretty Polly, which would allow more time for her to develop from this, the speed she showed suggesting even a shorter trip wouldn't be a problem.

Will she or won't she run in the Oaks? 🤔

Watch what Maureen Haggas had to say about exciting Newbury winner Sea Of Class. 👇👇

https://t.co/iuBl10s36P pic.twitter.com/HohZ1SLwqG

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) May 19, 2018

There was some good-quality racing at Naas on Sunday and Sergei Prokofiev (remains on 106p) enhanced his Royal Ascot claims in the five-furlong listed race. He is the best two-year-old seen so far this season, by some way too, impressive when recording an excellent time at Navan, and this wasn't a dissimilar performance as he brushed aside some promising previous winners in the manner of a potentially high-class juvenile.

Aidan O’Brien also won the Group 3 Lackan Stakes with Sioux Nation (up 5 lb to 120). He is very progressive on good or firmer ground, his reappearance on softish going easy to forgive, as was a below-par sixth in the Middle Park that ended last season, and back under suitable conditions he improved even on last year's Group 1-winning form to defy a penalty from smart rivals. He won at Royal Ascot last year, landing the Norfolk, and has to be one of the leading contenders for next month's Commonwealth Cup.

Brother Bear (up 3 lb to 108) had a bit to prove coming into this three-year-old campaign but has done more than get his career back on track, improving to land the seven-furlong listed event, well positioned but doing it with a bit in hand. He has plenty of pace and isn't certain to be fully effective at a mile, the Jersey over this trip a likely big-race target (good fourth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot in 2017).