Top-class filly Minding is among 21 horses standing their ground for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 20th.

Last season's 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine warmed up in her bid for an eighth Group 1 triumph with a pleasing performance when making a successful reappearance at Naas on Monday, although she does have alternative targets.

Aidan O'Brien's star could renew rivalry with the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester, who she defeated in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October.

Among O'Brien's seven possibles are Alice Springs, Deauville and Somehow, while Jim Bolger's Tribal Beat is another Irish entry.

Al Shaqab Racing's Galileo Gold, winner of the 2000 Guineas in 2016, pleased trainer Hugo Palmer in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last month as part of his preparation for the Lockinge.

Stablemate Home Of the Brave, owned like Ribchester by Godolphin, stands his ground after recording back-to-back victories in the Listed King Richard III Stakes at Leicester.

Trainer David Simcock has pencilled in Lightning Spear to start his season off in the Newbury feature after a solid campaign last year.

Winner of the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in August, he showed he could mix it at the top level when third in the QEII on Champions Day.

"Lightning Spear is a very talented horse and I feel there is more to come. The priority with him is to try and win a Group One in England," said Simcock.

"There is a good programme for him and he will start off in the Lockinge at Newbury, go on to the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and then we'll have a think.

"He goes on most ground and is training well."

Others in the list include Martyn Meade's Aclaim, Dutch Connection for Charlie Hills and Roger Varian's Ennaadd.

The sole French entry is the Gianluca Bietolini-trained Dicton, who was seventh in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup in Hong Kong at the weekend.