Who To Follow At Newbury On Saturday - 14/08/21

Horse To Follow - Hukum

One of the smarter events on the card is the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 1m5f and we can't look past the favourite Hukum, who on ratings should school this field.

The four year old colt was a decent two year old, only racing twice and getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Kempton over a mile.

Burrows always planned to step this horse up in trip and on his seasonal debut last term he landed the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in gritty style.

The way he battled and stayed on that day showed he could handle a bigger trip and when stepped up to 1m5f in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, he was a runaway winner in soft conditions.

Both these runs set him up perfectly for a crack at the Group One St Leger at Doncaster, but on the day he was outstayed by better horses and had to settle for fifth.

He returned this season at Sandown in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown over 1m2f and looked to need the run in the final stages.

As expected he came on for the run last time out when getting off the mark for the term in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood back over 1m4f and that put him spot on for a go at back to back Royal Ascot winners.

He headed into an above average renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes and plugged on well in soft ground to grab third behind the dual Group One winner Wonderful Tonight.

Many horses coming out of that race have franked the form and Hukum added to that roster of animals when last time out landing the Group Three Silver Cup Stakes at York in taking style.

Anything near that performance makes him very tough to beat, with his closest rival in the field having 8lb to find on ratings.

Trainer To Follow - Roger Varian

The trainer to follow on Saturday at Newbury is the shrewd Roger Varian who heads into the meeting in fine form and with that looks to have some huge chances.

One of his best chances of the day comes in the Listed Denford Stakes where he fields the unbeaten Bayside Boy, who was highly impressive on debut.

Another big runner for the yard at the weekend is Laneqash in the Hungerford Stakes, with the Shadwell owned runner having his first start of the season.

Varian has been in fine fettle over the last two weeks managing to land 11 winners from 37 runners which sees him pose a 30% strike rate heading into the meeting.

Jockey To Follow - David Egan

David Egan looks to have a great book of rides at Newbury on Saturday, with the rider set to sit on some short priced horses across the day.

His best chance of a winner comes on Mojo Star in the opener with the Epsom Derby second looking to get off the mark for the first time in his career, back in maiden company.

Other big chances for the rider include Bayside Boy for Roger Varian in the Listed Denford Stakes who is looking to extend his unbeaten record and Line Of Departure in the Hungerford Stakes.