TimeformBlog

The Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday can act as a springboard for horses destined for Group 1 Company. Timeform preview this year's race...


Trainer Richard Hannon has won the race three times before, most recently with Paco Boy in 2008, and this year he looks to hold the key to the race, with Strong Suit the likely favourite.

Strong Suit never really went on from an impressive win in the Coventry as a juvenile, but a wind op following his flop in the Greenham on his reappearance seems to have worked the oracle, winning the Jersey at Royal Ascot next time and adding the Lennox at Goodwood on his most recent start.

Sandwiched between those two wins, Strong Suit also managed to finish a very close third behind Mutual Trust over a mile in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, but the feeling is that 7f is his trip and he could have too many gears for his rivals.

Strong Suit was really impressive in the Lennox last time, when travelling powerfully throughout, looking value for more than double the official winning margin of one and a half lengths over Red Jazz, and it could easily be the case that there is an even better performance in Strong Suit, bearing in mind that he's still not had much racing.

Hannon also has another couple of entries at this stage, namely Dick Turpin and Dubawi Gold.

However, Dick Turpin, who has looked as good as ever when winning twice this year (but has also flopped twice in between) is seemingly more likely to head to France for the Prix Jacques le Marois while Dubawi Gold, who finished runner-up in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, has to put a flop in the St James's Palace behind him.

Godolphin's Delegator is also prominent in the ante-post market. He was an impressive winner of the Duke of York Stakes over six furlongs on his seasonal reappearance and followed that with a creditable effort when fifth from an unfavourably high draw in the July Cup. He bombed out on his latest start, however, when stepping back up to 7f and finishing last of nine behind Strong Suit in the Lennox Stakes, and he now has something to prove.

If back to his best, then Delegator is a definite player at this level, although it has been suggested he is only at the very top of his game when fresh and he'll have had only a few weeks between Goodwood and Newbury.

Of the others, Excelebration arguably makes the greatest appeal, having finished third behind Frankel in the St James' Palace at Royal Ascot last time. Marco Botti's German 2000 Guineas winner probably has more still to offer and he could be the one to make Strong Suit work hardest.


Recommendation

Back Strong Suit in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday


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