Cat Junior can give layers kittens in the Hungerford Stakes
Tactics are so crucial within sport. You can have the most talented performer in the world, but if your strategy is all wrong, then all the potential goes out of the window - just ask any England football fan.
Cat Junior’s change of tactics in the Betfair Cup, where he came off the pace to nearly deny the eventual winner Lord Shanakill makes him an attractive option to go one better in the CGA Hungerford Stakes. The drop back to seven furlongs last time out seemed to work and with plenty of opposition that look highly exposed, this looks an ideal chance to make it two for two at Newbury (he won his maiden by three lengths) and register his first Group- race victory in this country.
It’s hard to oppose Zaidan (pictured right) in the Washington Singer Stakes, who has been the one shining light in a rather out-of-form Clive Brittan stable this season. Big things are expected from this colt (he’s among the market leaders from the 2000 Guineas) following his impressive three-length win in the Chesham Stakes at Ascot. The form of which has been sincerely boosted by the fourth, King Torus, who went onto win a Group Two by six lengths. Native Khan could prove a danger to the selection; he won a valuable Newmarket maiden in July, which has produced the likes of Dubai Destination and Elusive Pimpernel, and can run on for the minor honours.
Seven of the last 10 favourites have been successful in the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes, which breathes confidence towards the two horses at the top of the market. Last year’s winner Kite Wood can bounce back from his poor run in the Gold Cup to see off the challenge of the progressive Sans Frontieres.
The William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap as always provides a challenge which makes picking your favourite female Skysports News presenter look like a walk in the park.
In the last nine runnings of this race, the winner has not come from stall 10 or lower which narrows the runners by half, and in a field full of inconsistent sorts, it may prove profitable to side with course specialist Tajneed, who is three from three at Ripon and comes here still on a reasonable mark of 94. David Nicholls’ gelding has got a fantastic draw from stall 20 and will be up with the early pace. Noverre To Go ran a blinder in the Stewards’ Cup and is on the same mark, he can be one for the each-way notebooks.
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