Lockinge Stakes: 40/1 must be taken for proven G1 horse after return from wilderness

This is a flash article due to the limited window of opportunity. We accept that this price will not last long and apologies to those of you who cannot get on in time.

One of the most exciting juvenile colts of 2024 blew out entirely in 2025. In the words of his trainer, "we just couldn't get him right". Form figures that season were a depressing 996.

But he made a very promising reappearance today in a listed race in Ireland behind a much more high-profile stablemate. And the former is the one we want next time out at a huge price.

The horse in question is Expanded, and he can be backed for the Lockinge Stakes at 40/1 if you act quickly enough. Just a week after making his debut he came a close second in the 2024 Dewhurst Stakes, which is typically the strongest of any juvenile race for colts aiming to become top-class older milers. Nor does the form doesn't look too shabby: the winner was beaten only a length in last year's 2000 Guineas.

In today's listed race at Leopardstown, Expanded was right at the rear of the field (with just one horse behind him) with two furlongs to go, but powered home to finish just 0.5 lengths behind The Lion In Winter, one of the top European milers in training.

Unusually for a four-year-old, this horse is still unexposed, and Group 1 honours do not feel like a far-fetched scenario if he steps forward from this, as Ballydoyle horses are wont to do from their seasonal debuts.

Summary: Expanded is not the likeliest winner of the Lockinge, but 40/1 is absolutely preposterous, and he appeals as an outstanding each-way bet. Aidan O'Brien confirmed in the aftermath of today's race that he would be targeting the race.

Recommendation for Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, 16 May 2026:

Back Expanded each-way at 40/1 with Bet365. If they cut to 33s, that's also very acceptable. 25s (best elsewhere) is into "meh" territory.