Local interest for G2 at Newbury
Clive Cox, Owen Burrows and Ed Walker have runners
A TOTAL of 19 horses remain in contention at the confirmation stage for the Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, in front of the first large crowd at Newbury since the return of racing.
2019 winning trainer Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand with his trio of Godolphin-owned horses, Al Suhail, D’bai and Space Blues, while there is good representation from local trainers, including Dreamloper for the Ed Walker team, Nando Parrado for two-time winning trainer Clive Cox and Owen Burrows-trained Danyah.
Cox is hoping his Royal Ascot winning Nando Parrado will get back on track in this year’s renewal.
He said: “Nando Parrado is in good form, I’m very happy with him.
“He had an excellent season last year, and I’m hoping to get him back to that top-flight level again this year.
“He was a very good twoyear-old, and has become a bit more relaxed at home, so I will stick a pair of blinkers on him.
“I think it should keep his mind fully on the job, and they should keep him focused, but he has been pleasing me at home and is making good progress.
“He didn’t like the ground at all at Ascot last time out which was bottomless, but he’s come out of it well.
“The ground should be beautiful at Newbury this Saturday, so that should be in his favour.”
“I’m always keen to win the BetVictor Hungerford Stakes. Of course it’s local, but it’s also a high-class race and Lethal Force did well to win it for us as a four-year-old, and
Balthazar’s Gift was another good winner so it would be fantastic to win it again with this horse.”
Another Lambourn-based trainer hoping for a big run is Ed Walker, who’s enjoying a fantastic season, including a first-ever success at Group 1 level.
His runner Dreamloper impressed last time out, and he said: “We are really looking forward to seeing her back on the track again after winning the Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot at the end of July.
“She is a progressive filly and that race backed up what she has always shown us at home.
“Molly, who rides her every day at home, has done a fantastic job with her and we believe there is still more to come.
“The BetVictor Hungerford Stakes is a deep race, but this would be a good next step for her.”
There will be four races shown live on ITV4, including the Listed Denford Stakes,
with Masekala trying to get his head back in front for the Andrew Balding team, following a short-head second in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last time out.
Hukum, the winner of last year’s BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes, looks to return to Newbury to defend his crown and is in great form following a Group 3 success at York in July.
Clerk of the course at Newbury Keith Ottesen added: “The going on Tuesday was good to soft after some showers on Monday and through the weekend.
“We are expecting it to be mainly dry and warming up for the rest of the week so would expect good, fast ground by Saturday.
“We were delighted with the entries and are looking forward to a fantastic day of racing, and to welcoming back a large crowd to enjoy it.”