Bunbury Cup winner More Thunder could be set for Hungerford tilt on Saturday - find out who he could face at Newbury

The rapidly progressive More Thunder could step into Group company for the first time on Saturday after last month's Bunbury Cup winner was among 12 confirmations for the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (3.35) at Newbury.

The four-year-old has been revitalised since switching to William Haggas and being dropped in trip. He was an unlucky second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start, but he got back to winning ways when getting up by a nose in the 7f heritage handicap at Newmarket's July festival.

Among his rivals could be Lennox Stakes winner Witness Stand, who could bid for another big-race success for Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, while top-class Godolphin pair Notable Speech and Shadow Of Light have also been left in the 7f Group 2.

However, Charlie Appleby has said that Notable Speech could head to France this weekend instead for the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, while Shadow Of Light could be City of York Stakes-bound. 

Hackwood Stakes winner Rage Of Bamby could bid for another notable Newbury success for Eve Johnson Houghton, while Fred Darling winner Duty First could return to the scene of her biggest win.

Also on the card, last year's Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly could bid to get his career back on track in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1.50).

The James Owen-trained four-year-old was last seen finishing fourth in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and could face six rivals in the 1m5½f Group 3, including St Leger dark horse Nightime Dancer, Pinhole and Candleford.

Hungerford Stakes confirmations (3.35 Newbury, Saturday)

Alyanaabi
Duty First
Fair Angellica
Great Generation
King's Gamble
Marvelman
More Thunder
Notable Speech
Rage Of Bamby
Shadow Of Light
Spy Chief
Witness Stand

Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (3.35 Newbury Saturday)
William Hill: 2 Notable Speech, 3 King's Gamble, 7-2 Shadow Of Light, 5 More Thunder, Spy Chief, 7 Great Generation, Rage Of Bamby, Witness Stand, 16 Fair Angellica, Marvelman, 25 Alyanaabi, 33 Duty First

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