Group Two Hungerford Stakes Guide 2023

Pogo could be one of the most interesting contenders following a return to form after finishing third in G3 Criterion Stakes at the start of July.

The seven-year-old was consistent over this distance in 2022, beating Sacred by over length to land the G2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, and he was a close second behind Kinross in the G2 City of York Stakes. Eye-catching contender for the team of Kieran Shoemark and Charles Hills.

Misty Grey is a runner from the Tom Dascombe yard this weekend, and Richard Kingscote takes the ride. The six-year-old was eighth of 12 in the recent Racing League meeting at Chepstow over seven furlongs.

He likely needed that warm-up run ahead of this challenge, but he has failed to score in 17 previous starts in stakes company.

Richard Hannon-trained Chindit will be the ride of Pat Dobbs this weekend. The five-year-old was well beaten over a mile on his previous start, finishing five and a quarter lengths behind Triple Time.

However, he has already won over a mile this distance, and looks set for a renewed effort back down in trip after finishing eighth in the Hungerford last year.

Jumby is trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, and will be the ride of Charles Bishop. The five-year-old was second in the G3 Criterion Stakes on his previous outing, finishing two lengths behind Audience.

However, Jumby was a winner over seven furlongs at Haydock in June, and was an impressive winner of the Hungerford in 2021. Extremely consistent, and shouldn’t be far away.

Rodaballo will be the likely outsider in the field for trainer G Arizkorreta Elosegui on Saturday. Neil Callan takes the ride on the six-year-old, who was sixth of nine in the Betfred Handicap at Ascot on his British debut.

He has struggled for form in four starts this season, and it remains to be seen how strong his Spanish stakes form over seven furlongs is.

Sean Levey takes the ride on Richard Hannon-trained Witch Hunter this weekend. The four-year-old has won once from 13 career starts, and is yet to land victory in five efforts in stakes company.

However, he could be among the more progressive contenders after winning on good to firm ground over seven furlongs in a big field at Ascot. But, this is much tougher.

Richard Hannon trains the only filly in the line-up this weekend, as Mammas Girl looks to bounce back from a string of below-par efforts.

She was last seen finishing sixth of ten over six furlongs in the G3 Summer Stakes at York.

Prior to that, she struggled over a mile in both the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 1,000 Guineas. However, she could be worth another chance based on her performance at Newmarket earlier in the season, beating Fairy Cross by nearly three lengths over seven furlongs.

Charlie Fellows-trained Marbaan will be the ride of Jamie Spencer this weekend. The three-year-old has won three from five career starts, but all victories were secured as a two-year-old.

However, there was glimpses that he could play a role this weekend based on his previous effort as he out-run his odds to finish third in the G2 Lennox Stakes. Well worth a second look.

Tom Marquand takes the ride on Roger Varian-trained New Endeavour this weekend. The three-year-old finished third of six over a mile in Newmarket in July, and could hold solid claims on his return to seven furlongs.

He was previously seen over this distance on the all-weather at Kempton, beating Berkshire Phantom by four lengths.

William Buick takes the ride on Mostabshir this weekend. The John & Thady Gosden-trained runner has won once from four starts, but his only career victory was secured with Buick in the saddle at York in late May.

He was sixth in Group 1 company over a mile at Ascot in June, before finishing sixth at Newmarket over a mile in mid-July. Down in trip, he looks to be a solid contender for leading connections.