BECKHAMPTON trainer Roger Charlton is considering a crack at the Qipco Lockinge Stakes with Captain Cat after his run in the Winter Derby last weekend.

The six-year-old made great strides last season, winning two Group Threes and being beaten only four lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.

He disappointed in the Hong Kong Mile in December and was making his return to action at Lingfield, where despite conceding 3lb to his rivals he was only beaten a length and a half.

"All is good with him, I think he probably ran to within a length of his best form, which given it was his first run of the season was pretty good," said Charlton.

"He didn't have the clearest of passages, it suited those brought wide and late, not those who came through horses, but the big plus was that he put his disappointing run in Hong Kong behind him.

"Unfortunately he's not qualified for (All-Weather Championships) Finals Day (on Good Friday). Because of what happened in Hong Kong we gave him a bit of a break and there wasn't enough time to go for anything before the Winter Derby.

"It is maybe something the organisers can look at, automatic qualification for previous winners, although I totally understand why they want people to run in the qualifiers.

"I don't know where he'll run next, but it will be back on turf and over a mile I'd have thought.

"Races like the Lockinge will probably be on his agenda. It has huge prize money this season.

"Realistically he'll only be running for a place, as I don't think he's quite a genuine Group One horse, but with all that money on offer and with it sometimes being a small field without the three-year-olds, it's worth a go."

Former winner Al Kazeem is one of 28 entries for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 24.

Charlton's seven-year-old returned from a spell at stud last year to run right back up to his best form, agonisingly beaten by Noble Mission in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

He beat Camelot in the 10-furlong Group One two years ago and the race is likely to be on his agenda once more.

"It's certainly one we'll look at, ground permitting," said Charlton.

"He'll go to France before that, for the Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp on April 6, a Group Two over 10 furlongs.

"It really was great to get him back last season."