BOTTI HUNGRY FOR EX-CELEBRATION

Marco Botti is confident Excelebration can make the most of the absence of old rival Frankel in the CGA Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The three-year-old chased home Sir Henry Cecil's wonder horse on his first start of the year in the Greenham Stakes over this course and distance, and went on to claim 2000 Guineas glory in Germany.

He was once again left in Frankel's wake in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his latest start, although he was far from disgraced in finishing third, beaten just a couple of lengths.

With Frankel safely in his box this weekend, Excelebration looks to have outstanding claims of returning to winning ways - but Botti is taking nothing for granted.

"Even though Dick Turpin and Strong Suit do not run, it is still a tough race," said the Italian trainer.

"Delegator maybe hasn't run to his best recently, but we know he's a good horse and we still have to respect him.

"Dubawi Gold has finished second in the Guineas at Newmarket and in the Irish Guineas, so we have to respect him too.

"But we're happy with Excelebration and we think he's in good nick, so we're really looking forward to seeing him run again.

"Good ground would be best for him. Obviously when he won in Germany the ground got a bit soft and he handled it very well, but I think good, safe ground would be better. I don't think Newbury will get so much rain that it will change the ground too much.

"I'm sure he will run a good race. On the form of his run in the St James's Palace Stakes he must have a good chance."

Botti is determined to ensure the race is a truly-run affair, declaring stablemate Ceremonial Jade to make the pace if required.

"We decided to run Ceremonial Jade as I can't see much pace in the race," Botti continued.

"Most of them are hold-up horses and we don't want a slow, rough race.

"Ceremonial Jade won't set a crazy pace, we just want an even gallop all the way."

Even though Excelebration has already shown he is up to competing at the highest level, Botti feels there is still more to come from his star turn.

"In my opinion I think Excelebration is still improving. Physically I can see him improving all the time," he added.

"It's been a bit of bad luck to have bumped into Frankel twice this season. He is a freak horse.

"Our form is solid and in my opinion Excelebration is a Group One horse. We hope he can keep on progressing and maybe have his chance to win a Group One race this year, if we can avoid Frankel!"

Richard Hannon's Dubawi Gold filled the runner-up spot behind Frankel in the Guineas at Newmarket and was possibly unlucky when only second in the Irish equivalent.

He was a disappointing sixth in the St James's Palace Stakes but Tim Jones, racing manager for owner Andrew Tinkler, is confident he can bounce back following a break.

"We gave him a nice break after Ascot. He'd done us proud and he he'd had five runs which is more than most horses have at this stage," Jones added.

"It made sense to give him a nice mid-summer break in readiness for a late summer-autumn campaign.

"He's done very well for us and he's one of those fantastically straightforward horses.

"The minute you tell him it's time for a holiday he lets himself down and just chills out.

"The minute you pick him up he gets back into his work. He's a dream and he's in great form.

"His work since he came back has been pleasing and he seems full of enthusiasm and he's ready for action.

"We've got Johnny (Murtagh) on board. Richard (Hughes) was to have ridden Strong Suit had he been declared so we asked Johnny if he would be available and he made arrangements to come over.

"We didn't want to go back on that and obviously we have had a link with Johnny since Dubai earlier in the year. He's been a pretty important part of our team since then."

Delegator's ability is undoubted and he looked set for a big season when winning the Duke Of York Stakes on his first start of the year.

But since then he missed the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot on account of the soft ground and while there was some promise in his fifth placed finish in the July Cup, he ran a lifeless race at Goodwood last time.

His jockey, Frankie Dettori, said: "He flopped in the July Cup, but he had a bad draw.

"Then we had him in at Goodwood, but the rain came and he hates that.

"He has been such an unlucky horse. He's had his problems, it took forever to get him back and when we thought we had him up and running things went wrong again with the rain at Royal Ascot.

"He will probably stay in training next year and I'm sure he will win a big one at some point."

Clive Cox is represented by Beacon Lodge, Balthazaar's Gift and the filly Perfect Tribute.

Beacon Lodge takes his chance having been withdrawn from Thursday's Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury, while Balthazaar's Gift bids to repeat his success of two years ago in this race.

"We took Beacon Lodge out at Salisbury after the forecast rain didn't materialise, but I'd be hopeful conditions will suit him better at Newbury," Cox added.

"We were thrilled with his performance at Goodwood last time, where he was third behind Strong Suit in the Lennox Stakes.

"He's in very good form and he has confirmed he's up to this level, with the ground being a prime factor.

"Balthazaar's Gift ran in the Lennox as well and that was pretty much his first run of the season as he pulled a muscle earlier in the year in the Lockinge Stakes.

"I'm very pleased with the way he's trained since Goodwood, but he wouldn't want too much more rain, so we've got a foot in either camp.

"Perfect Tribute was fantastic earlier in the season and just missed the break at Goodwood last time.

"She ended up meeting a lot of trouble in running and lost a shoe in the race.

"Although this is a very hot contest, her early season form warrants a place in this line-up."

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