Key questions and hot views as Sir Dancealot bids to hang on to Hungerford crown

3.35 Newbury
Unibet Hungerford Stakes | Group 2 | 7f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Can Dancealot be first in 50 years?

Sir Dancealot attempts to become the first back-to-back winner of the Hungerford Stakes since Jimmy Reppin 50 years ago when he takes on seven rivals in the Unibet-sponsored Group 2.

He also bids to become the first horse to complete an unusual 'double double', for last year's Hungerford win was preceded by success at Goodwood in the Qatar Lennox Stakes, and he won the same race again 18 days ago.

Jimmy Reppin was one of the best milers of his time, and after winning the Hungerford as a three-year-old in 1968 he enjoyed an even better four-year-old campaign, when his second success was sandwiched between wins in the Sussex Stakes and the QEII.

Sir Dancealot's best effort at that level was last year's fourth to US Navy Flag in the Darley July Cup, and although he's highly effective at Group 2 level, he has to concede a 3lb penalty to Lennox Stakes length-second Hey Gaman, as well as to fifth-placed Flaming Spear, sixth-placed Space Traveller and eighth-placed Donjuan Triumphant.

Trainer David Elsworth is hopeful however and said: "I can see why people are making the case for Safe Voyage, but we are as optimistic as we dare be. He had most of the other participants behind him at Goodwood, and while I'm not saying he won easily he left the impression that another 3lb wouldn't have stopped him.

"It was encouraging to see him back to form there, as he hadn't won since last year's Hungerford, and he's done well at home since. It's not impossible that he could go on to York next week for the City Of York Stakes, which is another Group 2."

Can Safe Voyage reverse Curragh form with Hey Gaman?

No six-year-old performing at this sort of level has improved more this season than Safe Voyage, whose odds have shortened progressively through the week in line with the increasing prospect of soft ground.

He has taken his form to a new level after three good wins at Haydock, and he beat good yardstick Suedois in the Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes on his first venture into Group 3 company. However, the step up to Group 2 level proved just beyond him behind Romanised at the Curragh, where he just failed to catch Hey Gaman for second.

John Quinn admits that Safe Voyage's improvement has surprised him, but he has no reason to doubt it.

He said: "I thought we'd done well when we won with him at Galway last year, but this year's he's gone bang, bang, bang, bang, taking it forward again. He was finishing off well at the Curragh last time, which was good to see, and he'll love the trip and ground at Newbury.

"It's a good Group 2, and he's up against some really solid horses, but he's in good fettle and so we are hopeful."

Will Hey Gaman handle the ground?

Hey Gaman is weighted to have every chance of turning the tables on Sir Dancealot and he finished just in front of Safe Voyage at the Curragh, but his improved form this year has all been on good ground or quicker and some of his form on soft going has been unconvincing.

Not that the prospect of soft going is a concern to his trainer James Tate, who said: "I don't think soft ground is a worry at all. He won on it at two and when he's been beaten on it since I think it was because it stretched his stamina too far in races like the French Derby and the QEII. I actually think it's his favoured surface and it could even bring him forward again.

"He hasn't put a foot wrong all year. He was second in his last Group 2 and it would be lovely to go one better; so fingers crossed."

What the trainers say

Andrew Balding, trainer of Donjuan Triumphant
The rain would suit him and I thought he ran better than his finishing position suggests at Goodwood last time. He was hampered at a vital stage too. He is a decent horse on soft ground, so hopefully he can go well.

Dean Ivory, trainer of Flaming Spear and Librisa Breeze
We've had to be patient as there aren't many races for either of them and we've been waiting for the ground, which has come right for them now. Flaming Spear has come on for his first run of the year behind Sir Dancealot, but Librisa Breeze might be a bit rusty. They both have new jockeys, but they are straightforward rides and both very capable.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Glorious Journey
We set Glorious Journey a big task in the July Cup, but he ran creditably and has come out of the race well. His best form is over seven furlongs, so the step back up in trip is a positive. The ground should hopefully be on the easy side at Newbury, which is going to be another positive. A repeat performance of his runs at Windsor and Newmarket earlier this season should make him a live contender.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Space Traveller
I don't really have any real excuse for him in the Lennox, but it was a messy race and one way or another it just didn't happen for him. We saw how good he is when he won at Royal Ascot, but I do have some concerns about the ground and if it's very soft he might not run.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com