We love Newbury’s Hungerford Stakes having won both editions we’ve tipped, courtesy of 11/1 Adaay in 2015 and 14/1 Richard Pankhurst in 2016.
The 2018 renewal might just have two standout bets in a typically juicy renewal from a betting perspective.
I would have liked some soft ground for Librisa Breeze to return to his best form after a disappointing campaign since landing the Group One sprint on Champions Day, while the favourite Gustav Klimt looks very beatable – particularly with the O’Brien stable under a cloud.
I’m looking for something progressive and love the profile of Richard Hannon’s three-year-old YAFTA, as he’s not finished outside the top two in his entire career, which usually guarantees a good run.
He’s priced right too with 10/1 looking very generous so, with Hannon thinking seven furlongs is his trip, the vibes are strong.
The other one subject to confident vibes is DAN’S DREAM for Mick Channon, who was unlucky last time out in the classy Lennox Stakes won by Sir Dancealot, and boasts a course and distance win here.
She wasn’t good enough in the 1000 Guineas but might not have truly stayed the trip or handled Newmarket – her best form is on a flat track like Newbury – so she might have lacked luck and ideal conditions in her latest outings.
If you take her trainer’s comments as evidence – Channon is ‘very sweet on her’ – then the 33/1 quotes offered must be good value in a very open race where the form of the older horses is very much there to be shot at by the improving three-year-olds.
1pt win Yafta @10/1, 15:35 Newbury, Saturday
1pt win Dan’s Dream @33/1, 15:35 Newbury, Saturday