It is Hungerford Stakes day at Newbury on Saturday with a field of seven set to go to post. The soft going may have contributed to the slightly sub-standard entry for this Group 2 race but there are some old favourites in the line-up.
Gregorian has been a good friend of mine over the past couple of seasons but I stopped short of supporting him in the July Cup. I had never felt that he had the speed for six furlongs but he ran a cracker to finish third. He usually likes soft ground but he seemed to get bogged down in heavy conditions at Deauville last weekend behind Garswood. I cannot support him after such a poor run and there are other seven furlong specialists in contention here.
I am going to side with the remarkably consistent Breton Rock. All of his six wins have been over seven furlongs on softer ground and this looks tailor-made for him. He was just denied by Penitent at Haydock last time but we should be guaranteed a run for our money. Apart from Gregorian, Chil The Kite will also be a threat if reproducing his tremendous run when second in the Royal Hunt Cup.
The Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes features several horses on the comeback trail including Melbourne Cup legend Red Cadeaux. Ed Dunlop’s globetrotting eight-year-old has finished runner-up in two Cups and is presumably setting out on his usual pre-Flemington campaign. He is actually best on official ratings and the stable are in great form.
Pether’s Moon is tough and consistent and it’s strange that Hannon is fitting him with blinkers for the first time here. I thought that he was in front plenty soon enough at Goodwood and stuck to his guns well. One that is capable of beating them both is James Fanshawe’s mare Seal Of Approval. She has not won since taking a Group 1 at Ascot last October but there is plenty of money around for her on Saturday.
The Washington Singer Stakes has been the launch pad of the careers of Lammtarra and Haafhd in the past but it is doubtful that there is a superstar among the four runners this year. However, Godolphin’s Hawkesbury can hardly be faulted on what he has achieved in two races. He ran on from the rear to beat all bar the smart Limato at Kempton on his debut and then hacked up at Doncaster by seven lengths. He faces a decent rival in Belardo but Hawkesbury can take the prize. I wouldn’t rule out a good run from Carry On Deryck either after his astonishing burst to win on his debut.
Hawkesbury 2.05 Newbury @11-8 Paddy Power
Seal Of Approval 2.40 Newbury @11-2 William Hill
Breton Rock 3.50 Newbury @5-1 BetVictor
