More Thunder set to strike in the Hungerford Stakes

MORE Thunder can secure victory in the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (3.35pm) at Newbury this afternoon.

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William Haggas’ four-year-old can continue his rise from handicapper to top-class Pattern performer with victory in the Group Two feature in Berkshire.

Having been campaigned over middle distances when trained by the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute as a three-year-old, More Thunder has been reinvented as more of a sprinter since switching to Haggas’ Newmarket stable over the winter.

He had been second at Chester over 1m2¥f last July but won just once in five starts in a Novice Stakes over 1m2fat Nottingham before that in the May of 2024.

But he dropped down to six furlongs for his debut for Haggas, he ran out a fine length-and-three-quarters winner of a Handicap at Newmarket in April on his seasonal return. He quickly followed that win with another in the Betfred Handicap back at Headquarters the following month, again beating Richard Hannon’s Aramram, although this time it was only by a short-head.

More Thunder was just beaten himself by Get It in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. But was back to winnings ways when he stepped up to seven furlongs for the first time in another prestigious Handicap, the bet365 Bunbury Cup on Newmarket's July Course. Again he had little to spare when winning a ding-dong duel with Aalto by just a nose.

He is clearly still learning, especially having only run once over this seven-furlong distance. And although he hasn't blown his rivals away in his victories he has shown a great attitude to win three of his four starts. He looks made for this step up to Group Two company and More Thunder can continue on his upward trajectory with victory.