Murtagh eyeing Lockinge option with star fillies Johnny Murtagh admits it is “exciting” to be entering stable stars Champers Elysees and Know It All in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 15. The two fillies are among 31 possibles for the Group One over a mile as Murtagh looks to build on a breakthrough season last year, in which Champers Elysees provided him with a first top-level win in the Matron Stakes. Know It All was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Prix Rothschild before finishing fourth in the Matron. “They have just started a bit of fast work now, so the plan is to run one or both of them in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh (April 17) and if they shot the lights out, they could take their chance,” said Murtagh. “We ran Champers Elysees in the Sun Chariot on her last start last year (fourth). It was decided to keep her in training as a four-year-old. “They have both done well over the winter. We will see how they get on at the Curragh. It’s exciting even entering them in the Lockinge.” Francis-Henri Graffard’s The Revenant, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II on Champions Day, is another possible. Harry Peter-Hoblyn, racing manager for owners Al Asayl Racing said: “It’s important for us to take one race at a time with The Revenant, who runs this Saturday at Saint-Cloud in the Group Three Prix Edmond Blanc, which he won in 2019. “But if all goes well, we would love to bring him over to Newbury for the Lockinge in May. It was the target last year before sadly it was lost to Covid and looking at the race, it’s a perfect fit on paper.” Palace Pier, Order Of Australia and Top Rank are also among the entries.
