12 Contenders Remain At The Confirmations Stage Of Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes

12 are still in contention at the confirmations stage of the Group 2 Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes on Saturday 16th August, which has an increased prize fund of £150,000 courtesy of this year’s sponsor, Visit Malta.

The latest confirmation stage has left an interesting field headlined by last year’s 2,000 Guineas winner, Godolphin’s Notable Speech, who could have his first career start over seven furlongs. He is joined by Charlie Appleby trained-stablemate, Shadow Of Light, who was third in this year’s 2,000 Guineas before dropping back down to six, then seven furlongs for his subsequent starts.

Godolphin have a third entry in the form of Spy Chief, trained by John and Thady Gosden. The three-year-old gelding finished seventh in the Group 1 July Cup Stakes at Newmarket last time out, although only two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner. He is going a furlong further on Saturday, but has shown no weakness over seven either, having won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Another still in contention is Witness Stand, who gave training partnership Jamie Insole and Dr Richard Newland their first Group 2 victory in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood earlier this year. The four-year-old was previously in training with Tom Clover, where he achieved success in a Listed contest, before he was bought for £100,000 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale to be the Newland and Insole’s ‘ITV Saturday horse’ – a risk that has already paid off.

William Haggas’ Bunbury Cup winner, More Thunder, could also run on Saturday. The four-year-old changed hands from Sir Michael Stoute after the renowned trainer retired at the end of last season. He has since won three times, and finished second in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. No doubt, the cannily campaigned son of Night Of Thunder, who has amassed just shy of £200,000 this season alone, is more than ready for this step up in grade.

Another interesting performer is Ralph Beckett’s King’s Gamble, who was a Group 3 runner over six furlongs at Newbury last time out after a year out. He is third in the betting for this weekend, while Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby, who finished in front of him last time, could run on Saturday.

Owen Burrow’s Alyanaabi started last season with a bang, defeating 2024’s Hungerford Stakes winner – Tiber Flow – in a Listed contest, but has failed to make any real impression since moving up. Fair Angellica, Great Generation, Duty First and locally trained Marvelman round off the field.

George Hill, Clerk of the course at Newbury Racecourse, commented on the entries: “It is very promising and exciting to see such a strong and varied list of confirmations for our Group 2 Seven-furlong race. We are also very pleased to have last year’s Guineas winner, Notable Speech, and Shadow Of Light amongst the entries.
“We are also very grateful to our new sponsor, Visit Malta, and the extra £25,000 in prize money on offer.”