Racecards
15:15 Newbury
Betfred Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Winner: £56,710
- 2nd: £21,500
- 3rd: £10,760
- 4th: £5,360
- Form 111-111
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer M F De Kock
- Jockey P Hanagan
set steady pace, quickened halfway, strongly challenged 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on
- Form 91654-2
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey S W Kelly
pulled very hard tracking leaders, switched left to challenge over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 12-2135
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Havlin
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well
- Form 404674
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
steadied start, chased leaders, hard driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 11-4332
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
with leader, every chance well over 1f out, no extra closing stages
Verdict
SOFT FALLING RAIN has been a winner across two continents so far and Mike De Kock will be hoping to make it three as the colt makes his much anticipated European debut. Though his most recent successes have obtained on an artificial surface, he should be able to cope with a return to turf, as he was a Grade 1 winner on it in his native South Africa. Caspar Netscher ran a stormer in the Lennox Stakes on his first run since an abortive stud career and he would be a danger if in the mood. Gregorian takes a drop in class having finished third in the Queen Anne Stakes and a well-held fifth in the Sussex Stakes. Tawhid is a previous course and distance winner and in receipt of a valuable 5lb allowance, he cannot be dismissed lightly. Libranno was last in the 2012 renewal of this prize and he appears to be up against it this year.
Formwatch
Soft Falling Rain (SAF) 9-4fav (8-9) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m Group 2 sks (1) in Mar beating Haatheq (9-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Caspar Netscher 10-1 (9-2) Took keen hold and held up in 5th, smooth headway 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 50 yards, 2nd of 10, nk behind Garswood (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 (1) gs in Jul.
Gregorian (IRE) 18-1 (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway 2f out, no extra and lost 4th inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 10l behind Toronado (8-13) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Jul.
Libranno 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leader until 2f out, prominent, went 2nd again over 2f out, every chance 1f out, not pace of leading duo final 50 yards, stayed on pressing for 3rd, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Garswood (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 (1) gs in Jul.
Tawhid 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, hung right under pressure over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, outpaced by winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Montiridge (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd.