Joe McConnell
Matt Chapman is at Newbury for Vscek Racing on Saturday and will highlight the weekend’s main race, the Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes.
While Britain is longing for a Group 1 race over 7f, he obviously has some Group 2 races on that trip and the Bet Victor Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, theI’m on Vscek RacingIt is one of the key events and the most important race of this weekend.
It wouldn’t be impossible to come here and then head to the City of York Stakes on this trip to the Knavesmire, but with only a few days between races, it’s unlikely. So I think it’s fair to see this as – generally speaking – the second tier of performers at this distance, which makes his Group 2 status understandable and unlikely to change.
It does require some class though, and recently the race has been won by the likes of Dream Of Dreams, who won the Group 1 Haydock Sprint, Lethal Force, another Group 1 hero, as well as Paco Boy, Reel Buddy, Lend A Hand, classic heroine Harayir and some old favourites such as Hadeer, Salieri and Salse.
So let’s take a look at the seven riders who will be running for renewal in 2024.
Bolted English Oak in Ribblesdale
1. ENGLISH OAK (Drawing 6)
Jockey: James Doyle | Trainer: Ed Walker
James Doyle takes a ride on a horse who probably needs to find a few pounds at these weights. Not everyone would have been thrilled with his fourth place in the Lennox at Goodwood, but those close to this horse don’t think he let himself go properly and came back with a slightly crooked shoe. Before that, he was a tasty winner of Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot. He can’t be ignored.
2. TOY (5)
William Buick | Eva Johnson Houghton
A mountain to climb with a rating of 100, but he has been a good horse and the conditions will suit him. He won in 2022 from Dubai Poet with Tiber Flow in sixth place, but was then rated 109. I hope he can be brought here and runs in the Racing League next week, where I guarantee him a place.
3. MASTER OF POP (2)
by Ross Coakley | by Ed Walker
He has a few pounds to go with the best of them and hasn’t done much this season, although his seventh-place finish in the Victoria Cup was far from a bad run. He basically has to find a lump of ratings to score for Ross Coakley and I can’t see him winning unless most of the others disappoint.
4. FLOW OF THE TIBER (3)
Tom Marquand | William Haggas
Talented horse, but pace could be an issue as he came from miles away when scoring at Haydock two races ago. Wasn’t good enough in the Lennox at Goodwood and it’s hard to see why he should reverse his form with English Oak. Tom Marquand rides on the back of his huge success on Economics in France on Thursday.
The flow of the Tiber must recover
5. WITCH HUNTER (1)
Jamie Spencer | Richard Hannon
Jamie Spencer is certainly an interesting booking for a horse who likes to get close. That said, the lack of pace could be as crucial here as it could be for Tiber Flow. He has been knocking on the door all season looking to land a big prize and has obviously been successful this year. I don’t see a repeat, but if he wins, it won’t be a shock.
6. SMALL (4)
Oisin Murphy | Harry Charlton
Oisin Murphy rides a colt who was unlucky not to beat Haatem in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, at least in the sense that he was narrowly excluded. Another horse who has run very little and is certainly capable of more. My concern for him is that he ran well over a mile on soft ground at Sandown in May, he will be a very fast 7f.
7. FOLGARIA (7)
Hollie Doyle | Marco Botti
Hollie Doyle has booked a filly who fought well to win the Fred Darling over this course and distance in April, a race in which 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka finished third. Well beaten twice since and hard to imagine even stepping down to a mile.
