Following today’s confirmation stage, a field of thirteen remain in the Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 19 August. The seven-furlong contest run over the straight course is open to horses aged three years and above for a total prize fund of £110,000.

Last year’s winner, Jumby, trained by Eve Johnson Houghton seeks to land back-to-back victories in the race. Having finished down the field in this year’s renewal of the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, Jumby bounced back to win the Group 3 Sky Bet John Of Gaunt Stakes followed by a close second in the Criterion Stakes (Group 2).

Other previous winners who are targeting repeat successes include Sacred who won the race back in 2021 for trainer William Haggas and owners Cheveley Park Stud. The five-year-old daughter of Exceed and Excel finished a very close second to Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on her last start. With an unbeaten record at Newbury over seven furlongs having won the 2022 Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes (Listed), she steps back up in trip from her last run for another tilt at the Hungerford Stakes.

Fellow course lover, Chindit, returns to Newbury following an impressive performance in Newbury’s flat feature, the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes earlier this summer. The son of Wootton Bassett finished second behind Modern Games before finishing mid division in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. Trainer Richard Hannon is pleased with how he is going into Saturday’s feature race: “He’s only had two races this year, this will be the first for his new owner. I’m delighted with the form he is in; he loves Newbury, he’s won the Greenham and finished 2^nd in the Lockinge. It looks like coming back to seven furlongs will be ideal for him and hopefully he has an excellent chance. He worked very well on the grass yesterday; the forecast is looking dry leading into the weekend so we are hopeful it will be quick ground.”

Richard Hannon also has Royal Ascot winner Witch Hunter and the Amo Racing-owned Mammas Girl with entries in the race. Amo Racing may also be represented by the Roger Varian trained Olivia Maralda, a yard who also may saddle three-year-old New Endeavour. Another interesting three-year-old is Marbaan who bounced back to form to finish a promising third behind Kinross in the World Pool Lennox Stakes (Group 2). Trainer Charlie Fellowes is pleased with how preparations have gone: “He ran a cracker at Goodwood in a strong race, the first two horses are clearly Group 1 horses. We decided to ride him with a bit of patience and he finished well on ground that was probably softer than ideal. He has come through it well and is due to do a piece of work either tomorrow or Wednesday. I think the seven furlongs at Newbury will suit him, we are on weather watch though, I wouldn’t want the ground to be getting too soft. He is definitely better on better ground. He looks a picture and is in really good order, his Goodwood run has done him the world of good and I would think he would be very competitive if conditions are in his favour.”

Rodaballo (G. Arizkorreta Elosegui) is the only overseas runner with the Spanish trained runner looking to improve on his previous sole start on English soil when 6^th in the Betfred Handicap at Ascot. He has met two potential rivals before; finishing 5^th behind Al Suhail (C. Appleby) in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort in Meyden, a race which also featured Misty Grey who may represent the Tom Dascombe stable on Saturday.  The line-up is completed by the Charlie Hills’ stable stalwart Pogo and the John and Thady Gosden trained Mostabshir.

Tickets for the BetVictor Hungerford Stakes with Olly Murs at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 19th August are currently available, please head to https://newburyracecourse.co.uk.

Full entries for the Group 2 Bet Victor Hungerford Stakes – Saturday 19 August