Group Two Challenge Stakes Newmarket Guide 2023

Charles Hills sends one runner to the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday in the form of Pogo. The seven-year-old arrives at this contest on a rather average run of form, finishing in the top three just once this term, in the Group Three Criterion Stakes here back in July. The horse has since only managed to finish in the top four once, in the Group One Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp earlier this month, which provides encouragement here.

Pogo won this race last year and despite that poor form, cannot be dismissed.

Richard Hannon sends two runners to this group two contest over seven furlongs in the form of Shouldvebeenaring and Chindit. The latter arrives here as the current second market favourite after a decent run of form, finishing third on two occasions in his last four races at Newbury and here at Newmarket as well as winning a group three at Haydock and a listed event at Sandown.

Those races came over one mile, so he needs to prove he can do it over this shorter trip but is arriving in good nick. Ryan Moore is booked to ride.

John and Thady Gosden boast one runner in the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday in the form of the market favourite Audience. The four-year-old arrives here on the back of a couple of promising runs, finishing second on both his last outings at York (Group Two City Of York Stakes, second to Kinross) and Doncaster (Group Two Park Stakes, second to Sandrine).

He won the Group Three Criterion Stakes here back in July by two lengths to Jumby over this trip and another good showing is expected of him here. He should go very close in the hands of Robert Havlin.

Kieran Cotter sends one runner to this seven furlong group two event at Newmarket with his three-year-old Matilda Picotte. The filly won here back in October last year, claiming success in the Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' Stakes before becoming a regular runner in grouped races. She arrives here on the back of two good runs, finishing second in a group three event at Tipperary last month before winning a group three at Doncaster by nearly four lengths, also last month.

She's against the males here now but she could run a big race with Oisin Murphy on board.

Richard Hannon boasts two runners in this group two Newmarket event on Friday in the form of Chindit and Shouldvebeenaring. The latter has been in pretty decent form in recent times, finishing second at Haydock in the Group One Sprint Cup when priced at 50/1, before a third-place finish in the Group One Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp at the beginning of this month.

He last won here in a listed event back in May over this trip and he should be in the mix if continuing his recent form. Sean Levey is booked to ride.

Joseph Murphy sends one runner to the Group Two Challenge Stakes on Friday in the form of the current market outsider Lord Massusus. The three-year-old has won three times this term, winning a couple of minor events as such at Gowran Park and Naas as well as securing a first grouped victory in the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown back in August over a trip of one mile.

He hasn't ventured out of Ireland prior to this race but has been competitive at this sort of level since that win. Not completely dismissed.