THIRTY-NINE STRONG FIELD ENTERED IN THE BETVICTOR HUNGERFORD STAKES AT
NEWBURY RACECOURSE

 

Entries were revealed for the Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 19^th August. Run over seven furlongs, thirty-nine were entered in the Group 2 contest which is open to horses aged three years and above with total prize money on offer of £110,000.

Among the thirty-nine quality entries are the two previous winners of the contest. Runner up in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Sacred, is one of three entries from the William Haggas yard. The five-year-old mare won the contest back in 2021. Last year’s winner, Jumby (Eve Johnson-Houghton), also holds an entry to seek back-to-back victories after a dominant display to win the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes in June.

Winner of the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, Isaac Shelby (Brian Meehan) holds an entry despite stepping up to a mile for his two previous starts. The three-year-old son of Night of Thunder is one of sixteen three-year-olds with entries in the Group 2 feature race. Of the younger generation, notable entries include runner up in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) and multiple Group 3 winner The Antarctic (Aidan O’Brien). Others who will benefit from the three-year-old weight allowance include Karl Burke’s Group 3 winners, Indestructible and Cold Case.

Previous Newbury winner Chindit (Richard Hannon) who finished second in the 2023 renewal of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes may be seen once again alongside Mutasaabeq (Charlie Hills) who finished 5^th in Newbury’s summer mile showpiece.

Other notable entries include multiple Group 1 winners from the Ralph Beckett yard, Kinross and Angel Bleu. The Beckett stable also has 2023 bet365 Bunbury Cup winner Biggles entered who would be making his first appearance in Group company.

Keith Ottesen, Clerk of the Course at Newbury Racecourse, commented on the entries: “It is very promising and exciting to see such a strong list of entries for our Group 2 seven-furlong feature race. It is nice to see two previous winners with entries returning for another tilt at the prize money. We have a range of older horses, previous Group 1 winners, and those younger horses stepping into Group company for the first time. We are very much looking forward to what looks set to be a strong renewal.”

The final confirmation stage is by noon on Thursday 14th August.

Early Bird tickets have sold out for BetVictor Hungerford Day with Olly Murs but discounted tickets still remain, with the Advance Saver discount available until Friday 28th July while hospitality packages are becoming limited.

For more information on anything happening at Newbury in 2023 please visit www.newburyracecourse.co.uk.

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