Hungerford Stakes antepost: It's time for More Thunder at 5/1

This is a flash article due to the limited window of opportunity.

Three bookmakers have now priced up the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes, to be run this Saturday 16 August at Newbury, following today's 5-day declaration stage.

The head of the market is a study in likely non-runners. Notable Speech goes to Deauville Sunday or York next week and won't be seen here. Shadow of Light is most unlikely to run due to ground concerns (was withdrawn from yesterday's Prix Maurice de Gheest for that reason) and is any case more likely to be held back for York next week, if the weather allows. Witness Stand, who would have to carry a Group 2 penalty for his Lennox Stakes win, is another question mark on the fast ground.

There are other decent types in this, but we would be very surprised if William Haggas's More Thunder were not placed, and think he has a good chance of winning his first stakes race here (he is a firmly intended runner). He should really be unbeaten this season in a spree that has included a number of top handicaps, only blotting his perfect record by failing (by a nose or so) to win the ultra-competitive Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June having been set an impossible task from the rear. Last time out he carried a hefty weight to win the prestigious Bunbury Cup at Newmarket's July Meeting. The step up to seven furlongs was absolutely the right call.

Saeed Suhail's entire is right down the list on official ratings, but right at the top on speed figures. This son of Night of Thunder, whom Haggas inherited from the retiring Sir Michael Stoute, appears to be still on an upward curve, and we think he has a smashing chance of coping with this step up in grade. So too does his racing manager Bruce Raymond (quote from Racing Post, story appeared in last hour):

"He's ready to go and is firing on all cylinders. He's been brilliant in handicaps this season and we're hoping he can be the same in Group company. I think he can and will just continue to keep on improving through his career. He's pretty good and I think he's got a top chance this weekend."

More Thunder's price of 5/1 is attractive from a win perspective, but even more so from a place perspective, hence an each-way approach is recommended. Should be backed in the antepost market to take advantage of three-place terms (race could easily cut up, with just one of the 12 horses entered having a jockey booking).

Recommendation: Back More Thunder each-way to win the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 16 August. He is 5/1 with William Hill or 9/2 with Paddy Power and Skybet.

(The AntePoster has personally had ugly experiences with William Hill paying out the third place for each-way bets in races that end up with less than seven runners, and has sacrificed the extra half-point to avoid that risk.)