Somehow tackles Lockinge Aidan O'Brien relies on Somehow as he seeks a second success in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. The Ballydoyle trainer's sole victory in the Group One mile contest remains that of the brilliant Hawk Wing in 2003 and while Somehow does not yet have the profile of stablemate Minding, she has progressed nicely since finishing fourth to that filly in last year's Investec Oaks. A daughter of Fastnet Rock, she has had three runs already this season, winning the last two, most recently in the nine-furlong Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Guineas weekend. O'Brien said: "She's good. She only ran at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago, but she seems to be in good form. "She's dropping back to a mile, but we're happy with her since Newmarket. She's up (in class) to Group One company now, but we think she's in good form." Connections of Galileo Gold are confident the 2000 Guineas winner can start his four-year-old career with a bang. The Hugo Palmer-trained colt excelled through the early part of last year, claiming the Classic at Newmarket before finishing second in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh and winning the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Three top-level defeats followed, but he delighted in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last month, after which Palmer said his charge had rediscovered the "magic" in his association with Frankie Dettori. Palmer said: "I am very excited about running Galileo Gold. It has been a long winter and a long wait. "We have had him fit and ready for some time. I'm looking forward to seeing him out again. "I think he is one of the few horses in the field that is not ground dependent. He is more relaxed this year compared to 12 months ago and he has grown up. "I won't be saying to Frankie to make the running, but Frankie knows the horse very well and he has not become one of the world's best jockeys by just listening to trainer's instructions but by assessing conditions of the race and executing tactics. "It will be the first time that Frankie has sat on him since riding him in a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting." As well as Somehow, a major stumbling block to Galileo Gold comes in the shape of the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester, who won the Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting and hit the jackpot in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. He was just half a length behind Minding in the QEII and lost little in defeat when third at Meydan on World Cup night after nine furlongs in the Dubai Turf stretched his stamina. Ribchester is one of three runners for Godolphin along with stablemate and likely pacemaker Toscanini and the Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection. Martyn Meade has long fancied a crack at a Group One with Aclaim, who progressed nicely towards the end of the last campaign, bagging a hat-trick which culminated in a Group Two win over Lumiere in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket.
