Jordan Yates' Hungerford Stakes Verdict. (18/08/2018)

A big welcome to this week’s Saturday Preview on a Saturday that is lacking a bit of star quality which is potentially down to the fact that the Ebor Festival is looming next week up at York. There’s still a few decent contests to be had though and i’m going to focus on the feature over at Newbury as well as selections on a few of the others too.

The Hungerford Stakes takes centre stage this Saturday over at Newbury which is a Group 2 contest that’s contested over a distance of seven furlongs. This year’s renewal see’s Gustav Klimt head affairs for Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He comes here off the back of a campaigning contesting mainly Group 1 affairs over a mile and whilst producing solid efforts in said company, he’s not quite excelled. He drops back in trip though as well as class and could well go closer here, he trades at a general 5/2.

Sir Dancelot is up next in the betting and comes here in great form this season and off the back of Group 2 success at Goodwood, he also claimed a Group 3 contest at Newmarket and is firmly in the mix here with Mosse back on board today, he can be found trading at around 10/3. If the rain does come it will certainly play in the hands to Dean Ivory’s Librisa Breeze, he hasn’t been seen to best effect since his Champions Day win but is a player on soft ground. He’s the mount of Robert Winston and trades at a general 7/2. A regular name in Group company comes in the form of Breton Rock, and he has a fine record in this race, winning it back in 2014 and running solid races in 2015 and 2017. He could well play a part again here with a bit of cut in the ground and is the mount of Martin Harley at arond the 8/1 mark. Sir Michael Stoute is represented here by Dream Of Dreams and he’s been running decent races in Group 3 company without getting his head in front. His best effort did come the last day though at Newbury when third and if building on that again he could well play a part, Adam Kirby rides and he can be found in the betting at around 8/1. Another consistent sort that takes his place here is Yafta for Richard Hannon and Jim Crowley, he’s took the step up from handicapping to Group company fantastically with two great runs in Group 3 company culminating in a win the last day here. He’s on the upgrade and can’t be ignored.

The rest of the field is made up by Dan’s Dream (25/1) for Mick Channon and Tomyris (33/1) for Roger Varian.

VERDICT: A very competitive renewal of the Hungerford Stakes and i’m going to side with GUSTAV KLIMT. Dropping back down in both class and trip I think it will be disappointing if he can’t make his presence felt here within this company.

GUSTAV KLIMT – (5/2)