Declaration Of War is as short as 13/8 in some places for the straight mile contest but is along way behind some of his rivals on official ratings. But it would be no surprise if Aidan O’Brien’s colt continued to show improvement and make a mockery of his current rating of 112.
The race is set up as a contest between the older horses who have the form in the book and the potential of the four-year-olds.
Godolphin’s Farhh (5-year-old) chased home Frankel on two occasions last season, never getting closer than six lengths. But Farhh has been beset by injuries in his career and most recently suffered an ankle injury over the winter. This will be his first run since that surgery.
The seven-year-old Cityscape is rated 124 and also finished runner up to a good horse in Excelebration twice last season.
Two interesting runners are Sir Henry Cecil’s Beauty Parlour and John Gosden’s Fencing. Beauty Parlour finished well down the field in the Sun Chariot Stakes late last season but had won the French Guineas for her pervious trainer earlier in the season. Again, backing her for the Lockinge is to take a view as to how much she has improved for Sir Henry’s work over the winter.
