Group Three Abernant Stakes Newmarket Guide 2023

Garrus is an experienced runner, having won five of his 23 runs since making his flat racing debut back in 2018. A little inconsistent in this type of company last season, finishing second in this last year but 21st in Jubilee Stakes and fourth in 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes over 6f at York as well.

He finished 17th on his last start of 2022, in the Group One Champions Sprint before a run in Saudi Arabia a couple of months ago preparing him for this. Creative Force looks a tough favourite to beat but he could go well.

Michael Dods has one in this contest, with six-year-old Commanche Falls, who was in very good form last term, winning 28-runner class two Goodwood contest as well as placing three times at Ascot, Ayr and York which includes third in group three behind Summerghand and Rohaan at Ascot.

Disappointing seventh on seasonal reappearance at Doncaster in the Listed Cammidge Trophy earlier this month and would be a somewhat surprising winner, regardless of a good 2022. Others are preferred.

Charlie Appleby’s Creative Force currently sits at the top of the market, and rightly so with the form that the five-year-old showed throughout 2022, despite not winning. Second in Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in another group one here in July came before third in Group One Champions Sprint Stakes behind Run To Freedom and Kinross confirmed him as one of the top sprinters.

Returns after 166 days off the track and in group three company, he has to be the one to beat on form. Would be surprising if he didn’t win.

Roger Varian’s Saint Lawrence is the current market outsider, at around 22’s, with the five-year-old arriving here on the back of a 264-day absence. He hasn’t won since winning Denford Stakes at Newbury back in 2020 and endured a tough 2022, finishing outside the top three on four of the five occasions he raced.

Struggled up in class last year and this is a tough ask with the 264-day break coming into play also. David Egan does the steering.

Jumby heads to this race for the second year in a row, having finished third in this last time around, behind Garrus and Double Or Bubble. Failed to really build on that win apart from winning nine-runner Hungerford Stakes in group two company but struggled on last three runs of 2022 (ninth, sixth and fifth).

He wouldn’t be a bad each-way bet at around 9’s considering his ability to go well and his performance in this last year.

Heavily raced throughout the 2022 season, winning three times at Doncaster (twice) and Nottingham. Landed listed Doncaster 6f race in November, two lengths ahead of Tarhib which was the highlight before second in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster earlier this month on reappearance.

This requires more but shouldn’t be discounted on the basis of that.

Four-year-old Ehraz had an indifferent season last year, winning here over 6f in three-runner class three outing after ninth in group three contest won by Rohaan at Ascot. Did ok on reappearance at Doncaster in the Listed Cammidge Trophy over 6f, finishing third to Fast Response and Vadream before heading here.

Should be there or thereabouts and Jim Crowley is on board.

Karl Burke sends two for this contest in the form of Fast Response and Silky Wilkie. Silky Wilkie arrives here on the back of finishing first in class two handicap over 5f at Musselburgh earlier this month, beating Vintage Clarets by just under five lengths. Has done well at class two and three level this year, winning at Kempton and placing three times at Lingfield.

Steps up in class here, but cannot be dismissed on the back of some decent form already in 2023.

William Haggas sends Tiber Flow to the Abernant Stakes having finished a decent fifth on his last outing, in the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot, which was one of his better efforts last term. Edged out Ehraz in listed Newbury event in May which would be the highlight but hasn’t challenged the leaders at this sort of level.

Would need a career-best if he was to claim victory here.