Steve Mullington casts his eye over Saturday’s card at Newbury, with an in-depth look at the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes.
There will be plenty of focus on Newbury this weekend, with a plethora of talented horses in action. Our racing expert looks through each race ahead of what should be a bumper card at the Berkshire track.
Newbury Best Bets Today:
- 1.50pm – PINHOLE
- 2.25pm – GETREADYTORUMBLE
- 3.00pm – JUMBY
- 3.35pm – MORE THUNDER (NAP)
- 4.10pm – BAY OF BRILLIANCE
- 4.45pm – RENATO
- 5.30pm – SKIMMER
So, what are you waiting for? Scroll down to check out his extensive Newbury preview for Saturday’s racing. In addition, there’s an exciting card – sponsored by William Hill – at Ripon and readers can check out Steve Mullington’s thoughts on the action.
3.35pm – 7f (Str) Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (Group 2)
Ten horses go to post in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes, which has an increased prize fund of £150,000 courtesy of this year’s new sponsor.
A strong field is headlined by William Haggas’ Bunbury Cup winner, MORE THUNDER (NAP).
The four-year-old changed stables from Sir Michael Stoute after he retired at the end of last season. He has since won three times, and finished second in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
This son of Night Of Thunder has amassed £200,000 in prize money this season alone, and should give another good account of himself in this grade.
Godolphin’s sole entry after Thursday’s declarations is Spy Chief, trained by the Gosden’s.
The three-year-old gelding finished seventh in the Group 1 July Cup Stakes at Newmarket last time out, but was in fairly close proximity to the winner. He goes back up a furlong in this race, but we know he can handle it, having landed the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Witness Stand gave Jamie Insole and Dr Richard Newland their first Group 2 victory in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and they will be bidding for back-to-back victories with the four-year-old here.
Better known for his Grand National heroics with Pineau De Re, Newland is also a part-owner of Witness Stand, so will be hopeful of gaining his second Group 2 victory at Newbury.
Another runner of interest is Ralph Beckett’s King’s Gamble, who was a Group 3 runner-up over six furlongs at Newbury last time out after having to miss a season due to injury.
Punters are very keen on him to build upon that and he is currently trading as the third favourite in the betting for this weekend’s feature. Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby, who got the better of him last time, also runs on Saturday.
Owen Burrow’s Alyanaabi got off to a flyer this season, accounting for last year’s Hungerford winner – Tiber Flow, but he’s been very underwhelming since. Connections will be praying that something can spark him back to life again in this contest.
Rest Of The Card
1.50pm – PINHOLE can justify his short horse racing odds by landing the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer. The Queen’s Vase eighth is very much in his comfort zone and can dominate this field.
2.25pm – Jack Channon’s stable is currently flying, so it would come as no surprise to see the consistent GETREADYTORUMBLE defy top weight in this five furlong dash.
3.00pm – Course and distance scorer JUMBY is a standing dish in these handicaps and his last two runs have been visually impressive.
4.10pm – There’s very little to go on here except reputations and breeding, so the £140,000 New Bay-colt BAY OF BRILLIANCE is well worth an interest for the Ralph Beckett-stable.
4.45pm – Hollie Doyle is a regular visitor to the winner’s podium and her booked ride RENATO can take his first turf victory on Saturday afternoon.
5.20pm – SKIMMER looks to have found a nice first handicap for the all-powerful Juddmonte operation, and a hat-trick is on the cards for the Kingman-colt.
*Odds correct at the time of writing – prices subject to change*
