Newbury Saturday Preview - 13/08/22

The first event of the afternoon at Newbury is the Class 4 Handicap over 1m2f and Rogue Rocket for Tom Clover looks the value in the field.

Seen five times this term the gelding has been a work in progress, finishing fourth on debut at Newmarket behind the talented pairing of Francesco Clemente and Secret State.

Sent to Thirsk next time out in another smart Novice event he was a fair fifth and finished in the same position next time out.

Given his first try in a handicap next time out at Salisbury off a mark of 77 he got off the mark in fine style and although bumped up to 84 for his latest run, the form doesn't read all that well but he was not that far behind the leaders back in fourth.

He gets on well with the claimer Connor Planas who was on board for his sole win and now up 2f he looks a bet.

The Listed Denford Stakes has fell apart from its ante-post stage with only five runners holding their ground and it could leave Victory Dance with a big opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Making his debut over course and distance in the middle of June at Newmarket the 700,000gns son of Dubawi got off the mark seeing off a nice type for a John & Thady Gosden by a head.

Sent to the Group Two Superlative Stakes last time out looking to follow in the footsteps of Quorto, Master Of The Seas and Native Trail who won the race for the yard, he was unfortunately done on the line by the talented Isaac Shelby.

Still looking very babyish he will have learnt a lot for that experience and now dropping back in grade should take the beating.

Another small fielded event follows at Newbury with the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes seeing just five runners head to post.

We fancy the Freddie & Marty Meade trained Zechariah who is getting the age weight allowance off the field and if in the same form as his Royal Ascot run he is tough to beat.

Getting to grips with things at the back end of his juvenile career he landed a nice event at Sandown over 7f and backing that up at Newbury over a mile when seeing off Irish Derby winner Westover he looked a nice type.

Seen four times this term, he returned in the Group Three Craven Stakes and was totally outclassed finishing last of the six, obviously needing a step up in trip.

Up to 11.5f at Lingfield in the Listed Derby Trial he ran a much more credible race, although finishing last of the four he was not too far behind the likes of United Nations and Walk Of Stars.

He put up the best performance of his career next time out at Royal Ascot when having his first try at 1m6f in the Group Two Queens Vase when only being beat on the line by a nose to Eldar Eldarov.

Seen last time out in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket he seemed to not quite get home with the quick turn around from Ascot maybe hindering him.

Back into what looks a weaker event, getting weight off the field, he could bounce back.

The penultimate event we are covering from Newbury is the Class 2 Handicap over 7f and Documenting for trainer Kevin Frost takes the eye.

The nine year old is the most exposed runner in the field but still seems to retain big ability off his mark of 99 and looks to have a big chance here.

Largely consistent in big fielded handicaps throughout his career, this year has been no different, finishing a fair ninth at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and then backed that up at York next time out when third in a good race.

Last time out back at Ascot Documenting put up a top effort to finish a close fifth of 21 behind Fresh, Bless Him and Dark Shift in the International Stakes.

Running off the same mark in this easier event he cant be overlooked.

The William Haggas trained Tiber Flow looks to be value ahead of the Group Two Hungerford Stakes with the trainer having won two of the last seven renewals of the race, the most recent with Sacred last season.

Tiber Flow has been a smart performer over 6/7f throughout his career and now stepping back up to 7f being unbeaten at the trip he looks interesting.

The Three year old son of Caravaggio made his debut in December 2021 at Newcastle on the all weather when getting off the mark at the first time of asking.

Stepped up to 7f at the same track he was another bright winner and then in March landed a hat-trick on handicap debut at Southwell.

Sent into the trickiest race of his career at Newcastle in the 3 Year Old All-Weather Championship Stakes and he lost his unbeaten record when going down by a head to El Caballo.

Tiber Flow got back to winning ways at Newbury over 6f in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and last time out when upped to Group One company was not disgraced at Royal Ascot when eighth of 20 in the Commonwealth Cup.

Back into calmer waters and up in trip for this, he looks a solid bet.