15:35 Newbury

Saturday 19 August 2017

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

Betfred Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) (Str)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 1m 25.84s

(11)

Breton Rock¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 113| CD

11/2

Back to form with a Group 2 win at Goodwood earlier in the month under a fine waiting ride from Andrea Atzeni. Forced to carry a penalty for that success but will appreciate any cut in the ground and can't be dismissed if it all falls right for him.

Form: 10-3531

(1)

Ibn Malik²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: C Hills| OR: 107| D

8/1

Listed winner at Newmarket last year but has proved disappointing in four subsequent efforts and this amongst his toughest tests to date. Crowley prefers Massaat and may be ensuring his stablemate has a strong pace to run at here.

Form: 3/149-42

(2)

Kaspersky³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: M Harley| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 113

11/2

Won four times in Group company for his former yard and has run well in defeat on three of his four starts this campaign. Won't mind any rain that falls and solid each-way claims here.

Form: 37-5252

(5)

Librisa Breeze¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 112| D

13/8

Disappointing in the Lennox last time when ninth of 13 behind Breton Rock at Goodwood. Previous fourth behind The Tin Man at Royal Ascot would be enough to see him in the mix and he's versatile with regards ground conditions; should bounce back.

Form: 1416-49

(4)

Massaat³⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 116| BF| D

12/1

Runner-up behind Galileo Gold in the Guineas last year but out of form on his two subsequent runs and clearly something amiss at Salisbury when last out. Entitled to need the run on his return but interesting he's the pick of Crowley over Ibn Malik.

Form: 212/297-

(7)

Nathra²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Fran Berry| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| BF| CD

6/1

Won a Group 3 last year and finished runner-up behind Le Cressonniere in a Group 1 in France. Didn't get a clear run at Ascot on return when favourite last month but entitled to come on for that and still possible we are yet to see the best of her.

Form: 15293-6

(10)

Sir Dancealot¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 101| BF| D

14/1

Won a Listed contest at York last season and produced an excellent run in the Bunbury Cup two starts back at Newmarket. Drawn on the wrong side and never got going at the Goodwood Festival last time but likely to do better here.

Form: 6-56020

(3)

Poet's Vanity⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 103| D

16/1

Winner of a Group 3 in her third and final start as a juvenile. Third behind Daban on return this year and finished behind that rival again in the 1,000 Guineas. Improvement needed to merely turn around the form with that rival.

Form: 411-374

Non-Runners

(9)

Mix And Mingle⁵⁹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: C F Wall J: Ted Durcan

(6)

Spangled³⁴⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: R Varian J: Andrea Atzeni

(8)

Daban⁵⁹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: Josephine Gordon

Forecasts

Librisa Breeze (13/8), Breton Rock (11/2), Kaspersky (11/2), Nathra (6/1), Daban (7/1), Ibn Malik (8/1), Mix And Mingle (10/1), Massaat (12/1), Spangled (12/1), Sir Dancealot (14/1), Poet's Vanity (16/1)

Librisa Breeze was a little disappointing last time but there's no doubt he's better than that but it may be worth chancing four-time European Group winner KASPERSKY, particularly if there's soft in the going description. Massaat is a classy sort who shouldn't be dismissed if ready to go on return to action.