Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes Guide 2021

The four year old colt was a decent two year old, only racing twice and getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Kempton over a mile.

Burrows always planned to step this horse up in trip and on his seasonal debut last term he landed the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in gritty style.

The way he battled and stayed on that day showed he could handle a bigger trip and when stepped up to 1m5f in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, he was a runaway winner in soft conditions.

Both these runs set him up perfectly for a crack at the Group One St Leger at Doncaster, but on the day he was outstayed by better horses and had to settle for fifth.

He returned this season at Sandown in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown over 1m2f and looked to need the run in the final stages.

As expected he came on for the run last time out when getting off the mark for the term in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood back over 1m4f and that put him spot on for a go at back to back Royal Ascot winners.

He headed into an above average renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes and plugged on well in soft ground to grab third behind the dual Group One winner Wonderful Tonight.

Many horses coming out of that race have franked the form and Hukum added to that roster of animals when last time out landing the Group Three Silver Cup Stakes at York in taking style.

Anything near that performance makes him very tough to beat, with his closest rival in the field having 8lb to find on ratings.

Hugo Palmer is yet to win the Geoffrey Freer Stakes as a trainer however enters the affair in fantastic form, boasting a 29% strike rate across the last 14 days.

His entrant, Golden Pass, has been progressive this season over 12f, winning in class 3 company on her seasonal re-appearance before finishing a head runner-up in listed company at Pontefract next time out with both runs coming upon fast ground.

The daughter of Golden Horn was asked to replicate that run at the same listed level next time out at Newmarket, again on good to firm, and delivered by making all from the front, a run style that will have paid dividend to the July course.

The runner now steps up into Group company and may improve again for the extra furlong, however does look to have a few factors against her including: the fact 11/12 past winners of this race have been rated 103 or higher, Hugo Palmers poor 5 wins in 79 runners at the track and the fact James Doyle no longer rides who has ridden her on her last 2 runs.

A combination of these factors may ultimately hold her in this race.

The Ed Dunlop trained, Red Verdon, has been highly tried this season and finally got off the mark 13 runs after his last win last time out at Sandown over the 2 mile trip.

That win was in listed company and the runner kept on well from the rear to win, however he now drops back down to the 13f distance and goes up in grade to be competitive here.

The manner of that last time out victory has shown the runners ability to keep on over the longer distances, however he now looks exposed dropping back down to the shorter trip.

At now 8-years-old, the runner doesn't look to be improving and may also struggle now upped in grade.

Ed Dunlops 0-21 strike rate across the last 14 days and a mere 2 wins in his last 46 runners at Newbury are also figures that ultimately look to go against Red Verdon's chances.

William Haggas is firing from all cylinders of late and boasts a highly impressive 40% strike rate across the last 14 days and his chances with entrant, Pablo Escobarr, can. be further boosted by the 25% strike rate held by the in-form Tom Marquand on board.

Pablo Escobarr won a Group 3 over the 12f trip last July at Goodwood, however since then his form has failed to replicate that level.

The runner clearly needed his seasonal re-appearance when finishing last at Newmarket and subsequently improved to finish 3rd in listed company next time out.

5th placed finishes the next twice at Haydock and Goodwood arguably came upon soft ground unlikely to have suited the runner and the return to better conditions is more likely to see him closer to his best.

Furthermore, the son of Galileo placed a respectable 3rd on his only run at the track and did travel well for a long way at Goodwood (G3, 12f) last time out before fading in the closing stages; that run can give good hope here for an each way placing.

Simon and Ed Crisfords entrant, Without A Fight, was highly progressive last season as a 3yo, landing a hat-trick of victories from class 5 to class 2 level over 10f-11.5f trips.

The son of Teofilo's 2nd placed finish behind Al Aasy here at Newbury (12f) reads well, albeit a 4.5 length beating, on his seasonal re-appearance, however he appears to have lost his way the last twice with a 14.5 length beating into 3rd at Ascot in listed company and a last of 8 finish last time out at Goodwood in the Group 3 Queen's Plate behind re-opposing rival, Pablo Escobarr.

The return to the well suited Newbury track may spark a revival and he's not completely discounted here, however will need to make a big step forward in order to get back on terms with the likes of Hukum and Pablo Escobarr

David Simcock is yet to land the Geoffrey Freer Stakes however tries his hand in the race through entrant, Rodrigo Diaz.

The son of Golden Horns handicap level to date is highly respectable after landing a hattrick of lower grade victories last season before returning with a comfortable win at class 4 level at Doncaster in June (12f).

A 3rd placed finish at Kempton followed (12f) at class 3 level and he was subsequently upped to the 2 mile trip upon fast ground here at Newbury in a class 2 last time out by which he finished a 1/2 length 2nd.

That run was a big positive in signifying his staying ability over the longer trips, however it also looks to ultimately hold him dropping back down to 13f.

He also will need to find a lot now upped in grade to group level in order to be competitive here.

Roger Charlton is +£31.62 to a £1 level stake across the last 5 seasons at Newbury, operating at a respectable 16% strike rate; he brings forward entrant, Sleeping Lion, to try his hand at Group 3 glory in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

Sleeping Lion has highly respectable form in handicaps, epitomised by a win over 2 mile on his seasonal re-appearance at Kempton.

The son of Teofilo finished a keeping on 4th last time out here at Newbury again over the 2 mile distance behind re-opposing rival Rodrigo Diaz, however he now drops back down in trip and is upped in grade for his first group race.

Both of these factors look to count against his chances in this and he may not have the pace to deal with some of these rivals, although he is boosted by the employment of William Buick in the saddle.

Andrew Balding is in great form of late boasting a 27% strike rate with 17 winners in the last 14 days and also holds an impressive +£115.40 profit from a £1 level stake on all his horses at Newbury across the last 3 seasons.

His entrant, Recovery Run, has been well backed for the affair down from 16's to 7/1 at the time of writing and a 3rd placed finish at Goodwood last time out in class 2 company bodes well for his chances.

The step back up to Group company does pose some question marks although isnt completely discounted given his 2nd placed finish in the Group 3 Zetland stakes last season (10f).

Any downpours of rain will definitely boost his chances here given his best form has come on softer ground.