Across the nine meetings in the UK on Saturday, the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes is the highest class of race staged throughout the cards. We have looked through an intriguing field, and given our 1-2-3 predictions.
Witch Hunter secured his first and only Group race success when victorious in 2023.
ENGLISH OAK
(Ed Walker/James Doyle)
Success in handicaps this season propelled English Oak up the ratings, ensuring Group races would be calling before long. Sure enough, after back-to-back wins at Haydock and Royal Ascot, the latter with a three-length cushion in the 26-runner Buckingham Palace Stakes, he took his place in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
In a similar kind of race, he could not lay up with the pace set by eventual winner Audience, and in a race which strongly benefitted the front-runners, he faded away having been close with the pace. He did slightly miss the break, which would not have helped, and only got passed by one of his rivals running on from the back, but the way the race panned out, more could possibly have been expected. He nevertheless retains potential, but may have to discover some of it to win this.
KIKKULI
(Harry Charlton/Oisin Murphy)
The final foal of Frankel’s dam Kind, the reputation bestowed upon Kikkuli was always going to be obvious. However, while it was always implausible for him to live up to potentially the greatest racehorse who ever lived, the three-year-old has made strides to being a useful performer so far this term.
After a runner-up effort on soft ground at Sandown in Listed company, he was short-headed in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Emerging in second in that highly competitive field was to his credit, although he then failed to live up to favouritism when upped to the top level in France in the Prix Jean Prat. On balance, he is worth forgiving that run, as a true, quick surface probably suits him more, and he is at the heart of calculations in this race.
TIBER FLOW
(William Haggas/Tom Marquand)
GG’s selection for the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, Tiber Flow could never get involved as the leaders were able to maintain their strong gallop on the long, downhill straight. Of those who were in midfield, or in rear, he finished third of five, and maybe tried to mount his brief challenge on the wrong part of the track towards the far rail.
Having been off the pace, he has every chance of overturning the length deficit required to overhaul English Oak in this contest. He had previously managed to come from behind to win a Group 3 at Haydock beforehand, and that is not forgotten easily, for all he now looks like a horse who will find one or two too good at this level.
WITCH HUNTER
(Richard Hannon/Jamie Spencer)
He might not be a prolific winner, but Witch hunter did claim victory in this race a year ago, overcoming a strong favourite for this level in Chindit in doing so. This season, he has been campaigned more strenuously, including twice in Group 1s, though those represent his top performances in 2024.
At a lower level, he has failed to overcome a decent gallop from the back of the field, but in the top tier, he has run on into third and fourth behind runaway winners in deep fields. All of his form points towards him winning a race of this nature soon enough, and the lack of an obvious pace setter could even be to his benefit as a hold up performer, as was the case last season.
THE FIELD
The remaining trio in the seven-runner field are all former course and distance winners. Folgaria recorded her success at the track this season, defeating no less than 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka in the Fred Darling Stakes. She has not kicked on upped to 1m since then, but these are calmer waters than in her last two races and this 7f trip may suit better once again.
Popmaster and Jumby are the oldest duo in the field at six years old. The former’s track and trip record reads 221, but having hit top form at the end of last season, he has not been quite as reliable this term. Jumby, however, may have turned a corner when third at Newmarket last weekend, though that form still leaves him enough to find.
VERDICT
This could turn tactical, with a lack of obvious pace in the race. However, that was the case last year and WITCH HUNTER, a habitual hold up performer, still came out on top, and he might well do again here. His Group 1 form this term is creditable, and there have broadly been excuses when he has fallen more narrowly short at a lower level. Jamie Spencer could prove an inspiring booking, and he is given the verdict ahead of the three-year-old Kikkuli, who is forgiven a disappointment in France last time. Tiber Flow might reverse form with English Oak from Goodwood given how that race worked out, although the latter may find further progression given his earlier season profile.
- Witch Hunter
- Kikkuli
- Tiber Flow
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