Newbury Saturday

THE Group 2 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes produced a minor surprise when Jumby (Eve Johnson Houghton/Will Buick) built on some solid handicap efforts to break his duck in pattern company at the third attempt.

The 9/1 chance was placed in both the Wokingham and the Bunbury Cup and was bouncing back from a rare sub-par effort to land this event by one and three-quarter lengths from the prominently ridden Dubai Poet (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni), who led until over a furlong out and rallied to hold off Wings Of War (Clive Cox/Adam Kirby) by a short head for second.

Favourite Pogo, along with the fancied Tiber Flow and the tailed-off Run To Freedom raced as a small group up the centre of the track, and it’s possible that they were disadvantaged as a result, although that wouldn’t be a solid interpretation given the groups didn’t race that far apart from each other.

Chindit started out on that side before moving to the bigger group, and it’s hard to excuse his lifeless effort in eighth.

Starting slowly

Jumby has often been hampered in handicaps by his habit of starting slowly, but he was always travelling comfortably off the pace here and went on readily after the disappointing Primo Bacio briefly hit the front over a furlong out.

Winning trainer Eve Johnson Houghton was mulling over the options available, with ground conditions likely to determine his choices later in the season.

“I’ve always thought he had the pace for six furlongs, but not the gate speed,” said the Blewbury handler.

“He’s growing up and is a big horse. His form’s there to be seen and he could even go a mile, but he loves fast ground and running at horses after a good pace.

Ground

“I’ll enter him in the Prix de la Foret, but we need to see what the ground is like and he’s in the City of York next week, and I’m not ruling it out yet. We could then think about Dubai and Bahrain.”

Zechariah strikes for classic crop

THE Group 3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes is often seen as a good trial for the St Leger, coming over an extended one mile, five furlongs and against older horses, although recent winners Technician, Hukum, Defoe and Census all went on to disappoint at Doncaster.

The first-named of that quartet was trained by Martyn Meade, and his failure to figure in the Leger is not putting him off another try with Zechariah, who was back to the form he showed when just touched off in the Queen’s Vase under a front-running Tom Marquand ride, the pair coming three and a half lengths lengths clear of Universal Order (David Simcock/Andrea Atzeni).

Wrestle

Archie Watson’s Outbox, who tried to match strides with the winner, was always lugging badly to his right under Hollie Doyle, and she did well to wrestle him into third in the circumstances, albeit six and a quarter lengths behind at the line.

Course record

Zechariah was credited with a new course record at the seldom-used trip, his winning time 2m 46.99s.

The winner was quoted at 16/1 for the St Leger after the contest, and co-trainer Freddie Meade felt that was a fair reflection for a colt likely to go to Doncaster, where he could clash again with Queen’s Vase winner Eldar Eldarov.

“There’s a bit of time between now and then and I think that’s the plan for Zechariah,” said Meade Jr. “We’ll discuss it with everyone, but Dad and I are never shy of having a pop. He was disappointing (in the Bahrain Trophy) at Newmarket, but I think we ran him back too quickly after his good run at Ascot.

“He won the Haynes, Hanson & Clark on good to soft, so goes on most ground - I just don’t think he wants extremes. He’s also in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup and he’s got Australian connections, so we’ll talk to them with regard to that.”

Strong-running Victory Dance all class

THE latest renewal of the Listed Denford Stakes looked a good race for the grade, and that impression lingered after the event, with the race going to 8/15 favourite Victory Dance (Charlie Appleby/Will Buick) by one and a quarter lengths from Ferrari Queen (Charlie and Mark Johnston/Andrea Atzeni), with Candle Of Hope (Richard Hughes/Tom Marquand) a head back in third at the line.

Ferrari Queen led until headed by the strong-travelling Victory Dance just over a furlong out, and the Superlative Stakes runner-up quickly established a winning lead, with his rider able to ease him close home.

Ferrari Queen kept on well for second, with Candle Of Hope always closing after being held up, but unable to get on terms. The latter had impressed with novice wins here and at Thirsk before this, and gave the impression she had improved again, while perhaps not suited by the ordinary gallop.

Alex Merriam was representing winning trainer Charlie Appleby, and wouldn’t commit as to future plans, saying that a decision on whether to step him up to a mile would be the first discussion to be had. He appeals as a Royal Lodge type.

Bred by Airlie Stud and Sonia Rogers, Victory Dance is a Dubawi half-brother to Skitter Scatter, who did not progress from her two-year-old days. This is also the family of Intense Focus.

Gordon Elliott still has the magic touch at Perth

GORDON Elliott may have seen his opportunities limited by the BHA’s controversial rule regarding Irish runners in low-grade jumps handicaps, but it didn’t stop him landing a treble on Saturday’s card at Perth.

The 3/1 shot Getaway Goldie landed the Class 4 Handicap Chase, swiftly followed by success for Britzka (13/2) in the Perthshire Pride Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle.

Finn The Magician concluded an excellent day’s work by taking the bumper at 13/8, and all three were partnered by Sean Bowen.