I will be at Newbury for one of their summer highlight's, the Hungerford. It's a decent undercard too considering we have York around the corner.
13:25, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes
Tabletalk 10/3, 1pt win
It's a fair renewal of the Geoffrey Freer that kicks things off and William Haggas's veteran Dubai Honour sets a high standard. A lengthy absence, quick ground conditions and a step up in trip are enough negatives around the favourite however and so it may pay to side with Tabletalk to end his run of narrow defeats here. He has run well at the Berkshir track before and Tom Clover's 5 year old receives a 3 pound pull at the weights with Mount Athos for his nose defeat at York last time. This trip will probably suit a little better too.
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14:35, TPT Fire Handicap
Addison Grey 13/2, 1pt each-way (3 places)
The dead 8 go to post for this 7 furlong handicap and Scoville has been well supported here to finally build on the promise of last year. He's not really achieved anything this season though and can be opposed at the prices. Clive Cox's is only 1 pound higher in the handicap than when 2nd over 6 furlongs here in the Spring and when 2nd to Wokingham winner Double Rush at Newmarket. He's been a little below form since then but this step up in trip looks like a good move and Hector Crouch has a great record for the stable.
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15:10, Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes
Extremely Zain 11/2, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)
It's an interesting renewal of the Hungerford this year. Yes, the City of York Stakes next week has had a detrimental impact on Newbury's Group 2 but it still attracts a decent sort in search of nearly 100 grand. Symbol Of Honour was a ready winner here last time over a shorter trip and brings the best recent form into the race. The distance is a little bit of a worry still though considering he hasn't tackled it since well beaten at the start of last year. Never So Brave won the City of York Stakes last year and if he reproduces that form he will win this well but he's been miles off that standard so far this year and is very much on a retrieval mission. Coppul ran a cracker in the July Cup and comes into this with solid claims but needs to prove himself over the trip. With so many question marks surrounding the leading contenders here, it may be that William Haggas's improving 3 year old Extremely Zain can take this step up in class in his stride. He's a proven 7 furlong specialist and will enjoy this fast surface. The well bred colt looked a group horse when winning a big field handicap at York before being too keen and too forward in another one at Ascot. He will have learned plenty for that last experience and connections wouldn't be throwing him in here if they didn't think he was up to it.
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Ripon
15:25, William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap
Aramram 10/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
I have never been expect on Yorkshire racing but surely Richard Hannon wouldn't be sending his classy sprinter Aramram up north if he didn't think this was a winnable opportunity. The consistent son of Blue Point is 10 pound higher in the handicap than his last victory but he's since proved himself an improved horse in graded races this year and although he has a lumpy weight to defy, this isn't the hottest renewal of Ripon's summer feature and the draw in stall 3 is no negative.
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