More Thunder moving up in class at the weekend

More Thunder is all set to have his first run in Pattern company in Saturday’s Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes.

William Haggas’ rapidly improving four-year-old won over 10 furlongs for Sir Michael Stoute last season, but his new trainer wasted no time in reverting to sprinting.

He won a six-furlong handicap at the Craven meeting off 87, followed up at the Guineas meeting off 92, was beaten a head off 98 in the Wokingham and won the Bunbury Cup over seven furlongs last time out off the same mark.

Now up to 103, connections feel it is time to test the water at a higher level, starting with this Group Two contest.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to More Thunder’s owner Saeed Suhail, said: “I can’t see why he won’t be up to it, he’s unlucky not to be unbeaten this season.

“Because he’s only been running in handicaps his rating is still pretty low compared to some in the race, but I’d be very disappointed if he wasn’t up to this level.

“He’s very versatile regarding trip. For now I think seven suits him, but I know his jockey (Tom Marquand) thinks he’s at his best over a strong-run six, which is quite hard to believe given Sir Michael started off with him at 10 furlongs.”

With More Thunder in action this weekend, Never So Brave, in the same ownership and trained by Andrew Balding, has the Sky Bet City of York Stakes on his agenda.

“He’ll be going to the new Group One at York, he’s improving with every run and looked good at Ascot,” said Raymond.

Also in contention for the Newbury race are Lennox Stakes winner Witness Stand, the Charlie Appleby pair of Notable Speech and Shadow Of Light, Marco Botti’s Great Generation and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby.