The Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes takes centre stage at Newbury on Saturday afternoon with ten runners bidding for glory in the seven-furlong contest. Our expert editor provided a runner-by-runner guide to this weekend’s feature contest below, alongside an exclusive customer offer from Sky Bet, who are offering up to £30 In Free Bets when you sign up and place ANY bet.
BetVictor Hungerford Stakes – Newbury (7f, 15:35 Saturday 13th August)
Chindit (Richard Hannon, Pat Dobbs)
Has figures of 1-1-1-0-1-3 when racing over seven furlongs and has performed well in his recent outings over a mile this campaign. Landed a Listed contest at Doncaster in March before bumping into the mighty Baaeed in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes. Resumed winning ways in the Summer Mile at Ascot back in Group 2 company but again faced a tough task when failing to live with William Haggas’ superstar miler in the Sussex Stakes last time out. Record outside of Group 1 company stands at 6 from 8 and despite carrying a penalty, he appears to be a leading player back at his optimum distance.
Jumby (Eve Johnson-Houghton, William Buick)
New Bay colt who enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign last season, winning three of his seven starts for connections. Yet to get back to winning ways in five starts this year but has run well in defeat, finding the frame in valuable handicaps including when finishing third over this trip in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket on his penultimate start. First-time cheekpieces failed to have the desired effect in the International Stakes at Ascot when last seen and appears to have his work cut out now back up in Group company.
Pogo (Charlie Hills, Kieran Shoemark)
Six-year-old who rarely runs a bad race for connections. Returned to British soil when making all of the running to land the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock in May and followed up under similar tactics the following month when defeating Sunray Major in the Criterion Stakes. Confirmed his improved form when finishing a half-length behind in third in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at the Goodwood Festival just eighteen days ago and will more than likely run another solid race from the front this weekend.
Run To Freedom (Henry Candy, Dane O’Neill)
Four-year-old colt who returned this season with a creditable effort behind Double Or Bubble in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket in April. Built on that seasonal return when winning a Listed contest at Windsor on his following start and wasn’t beaten far in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting on his penultimate start. Made hard work of landing a three-runner event at Salisbury last time out and has questions to answer back up in trip (first run at seven furlongs since October 2021)
Double Or Bubble (Chris Wall, Jack Mitchell)
Useful mare who finished second over this trip in the Group 3 Supreme Stakes and Group 3 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood and Doncaster last season. Returned this year with a narrow victory in the Abernant Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket in April before finishing in mid-division in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes in June at Royal Ascot. Kept on well last time out when finishing fifth in the July Cup at Newmarket’s July meeting and certainly looks ready for the step back up in trip on recent evidence.
Happy Romance (Richard Hannon, Hollie Doyle)
Two of her six wins have come at this venue, including when landing the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes over six furlongs in July last year. Ran a screamer when finishing second in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan earlier this year and hinted at a return to winning form when meeting plenty of trouble in her follow-up bid in this year’s Hackwood Stakes on her latest start. Still yet to fully convince that she wants this far and the yard appears to hold more pressing claims with Chindit.
Primo Bacio (Ed Walker, Richard Kingscote)
Talented filly on her day but is yet to threaten in her last eight starts for connections. Finished just under four lengths behind Jane Chapple-Hyam’s stable star Saffron Beach in the Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot but was readily beaten behind Prosperous Voyage in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and failed to capitalise on the drop to Group 3 company when fifth behind Oscula in the Oak Tree Stakes at the Goodwood Festival when last seen. Moves back up in grade and will do well to break her long losing run in this extremely competitive contest.
Dubai Poet (Roger Varian, Andrea Atzeni)
Lightly-raced colt who has been tried at a variety of trips this season. Second over a mile behind the well-touted Checkandchallenge at Newcastle in April before failing to get involved over the extended 1m2f when finishing fourth in the Dee Stakes at Chester in May. Reverted to seven furlongs in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot but ultimately failed to match the finishing kick of the eventual winner when finishing third. Hard to know what to expect of her this weekend but is likely going to find one or two in here too good as she tackles Group 2 opposition for the very first time.
Tiber Flow (William Haggas, Tom Marquand)
Has developed into a talented three-year-old for top connections winning four of his six starts so far. Landed back-to-back novices at Newcastle before making a smooth winning handicap debut off 89 over seven furlongs at Southwell back in March. Unlucky not to remain unbeaten on his following start when defeated a short head by Karl Burke’s progressive sprinter El Caballo but returned to winning ways in Listed company when strong at the finish over six furlongs in the Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury on his penultimate outing. Sent off just 12/1 for the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but ultimately never got involved in first-time cheekpieces. Headgear left off this weekend and is entitled to plenty of respect given that he is unbeaten over this trip and represents last year’s winning team.
Wings Of War (Clive Cox, Adam Kirby)
Landed the Mill Reef at this track on his final juvenile start but is yet to add to that victory in his five outings over six furlongs this term. Ran no sort of race when finishing down the field in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup in June but hinted at a return to form when finishing strongly inside the closing stages to finish third over in Deauville in Group3 company. Never looked entirely happy in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh on his latest start and has plenty on his plate as he steps up to seven furlongs for the very first time on Saturday afternoon.
BetVictor Hungerford Stakes Verdict
Tiber Flow bids to give trainer William Haggas his third win in the Group 2 feature after taking two of the last seven renewals. The son of Caravaggio is 2 from 2 over seven furlongs and certainly could resume his rapid progression back at this more suitable trip. The likes of Pogo and Double Or Bubble are also entitled to respect in their own rights but this contest can go the way of Richard Hannon’s CHINDIT, who returns to his optimum trip on Saturday afternoon following a host of creditable efforts in defeat at the top table over a mile this year. A game-winner of the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot in July, the son of Wootton Bassett has been far from disgraced behind the mighty Baaeed in Group 1 events at Newbury, Ascot and Goodwood and has to be a major player dropping back in grade with his sights lowered once again. A strong stayer over seven furlongs, the four-year-old won’t mind if they go off too hard out in front and a seventh career victory could be very much on the cards for Richard Hannon’s highly-talented colt.
- CHINDIT
- Tiber Flow
- Double Or Bubble
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