Hungerford Stakes

3.05 Newbury
CGA Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) (Str) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £51,093

Pick: Cat Junior (win)

Balthzaar’s Gift: Has been getting better and better and reached new heights with impressive Group 2 win in this race last year; Hasn’t run at all badly behind Starspangledbanner this year on both occasions, and respectable effort in the Betfair Cup at Goodwood latest. So seemgly ulding up for big effort to retain his crown.

Cat Junior: Consistent horse who has been hard to win with, despite a number of good runs in strong company; Looked good when winning Group 3 at Meydan before disappointing when ninth behind Calming Influence and in Queen Anne but right back to best when fast closing second in Betifar Cup last time; That effort makes him one to beat.

Finjaan: Relatively lightly raced career, which has included 2 wins at Goodwood, in the Molecomb and last year’s Betfair Cup; Hasn’t reached same form since and disappointing under favoured conditions when trying for a repeat in Betfair Cup last time, so maybe best watched even though he has ablity to win this at his best.

Himalaya: Made highly encouraging debut over 6f and backed up that with 4th in Coventry Stakes which has worked out very well since (1st 3 infront of him all Group 1 winners since); Hasn’t reached that form but shown admirable consistency since, racking up a series of cracking placed efforts in top handicaps over 6f/7f this summer; More needed but booking of Johnny Murtagh and cheekpiece attachments are plus signs.

Quqba: Really took off in 2009, improving from handicap company in April to a very near miss in Group 2 at Newmarket in October; Still improving rapidly this year based on his Lockinge Stakes second to Paco Boy, although he did get first run and was comfortably beaten; Hasn’t reached that form since, coming well beaten seventh in Queen Anne and moderate fourth (hampered) in Summer Mile last time; If back to best, class act in this field.

Palace Moon: Has always had potential to be group class and has belatedly realized that this year, finishing third to Laddies Poker Two in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and second to St Moritz in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket; Form of those events not been working out well and firmer ground than now (softish at time of writing) needed for him to make his mark here.

Golden Stream: Kept on progressing all through last season and ran to useful enough level when winning at listed level; Has arguably run successive carrer bests last twice, when staying on behind Pyrrha at Lingfield in May from poor position in Windsor Forest (not given hard time once chance had gone);Good second last time but this tougher.

Summer Fete: Lightly-raced filly who won Oak Tree Stakes before unsuccessful crack at Group 1 company in Prix Du Moulin; Had presumably been kept fresh for follow up, so surprising when not given hard time when seventh in same race 15 days ago on belated return but needs to have come on a bundle.

Angel’s Pursuit: Hard to say if he improved off his Mill Reef Stakes second when winning listed contest in receipt of 3lbs from Society Rock but hasn’t run up to same level since and this tougher than any of those runs.

Shakesperian: Tough reliable sort who gained big Goffs Million Mile win last season, holding off Marfach all the way to the line and was a respectable sixth to St Nicholas Abbey in Racing Post Trophy on last start for Mark Johnston; Won well on Godolphin debut at Epsom to start season but has been seemingly exposed since in better races and faces tough task again, although a return to front running tactics could help.

VERDICT: If back to the form that saw him second in the Lockinge here, Quqba looks the class act of the field. Last year’s winner Balthazar’s Gift looks like he’s been prepped for a big bid to defend his crown but he has to make up a bit of ground of CAT JUNIOR, who was unlucky not to win the Betfair Cup last time and should go well.