Godolphin on weather watch

Godolphin are hoping the rain stays away from Newbury ahead of Creachadoir’s bid to give them a fourth victory in the Juddmonte Lockinge tomorrow.

However, connections expect the four-year-old colt to put up an improved performance on his run in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba in March.

Saeed bin Suroor, who trained Cape Cross (1998), Fly To The Stars (1999) and Aljabr (2000) to win the Lockinge, said: “Creachadoir is in good form and he is working well.

“He won a Group Three at Newmarket in October and then ran really well in Hong Kong in December.

“We were disappointed with his run at Nad Al Sheba but maybe the way the race was run didn’t suit him that day.

“We would prefer good to firm ground for him on Saturday and I hope there is no more rain before the race. He’s ready to go and I am expecting a big run from him,” he told Godolphin’s official website, www.godolphin.com.

Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford also expects a better showing granted suitable conditions.

He said: “Creachadoir has been in great form. He missed the break in the Dubai Duty Free and it was a sort of sit-and-sprint race.

“We were happy enough with his run in that race considering the position he was in early on.

“He’s in good form and Newbury will suit him well. The only thing that probably would be against him would be if it rains because he is a top of the ground horse.

“He needs to run because we are hoping to get him to Royal Ascot but the faster the ground the better for Creachadoir.”