Jim Crowley Saturday Blog | Newbury
15 Aug 2025
Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, previews his four rides at Newbury on Saturday, including Alyanaabi in the feature race of the day, the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes.
14:25 Newbury – Lil Guff
Lil Guff has run well in her four starts so far this year, winning at Bath in the spring and finishing third at Ascot on her most recent start. We’re drawn well in stall eight, and there’s no reason to think she won’t run her usual solid race, which should put her in the mix. I finished second on her at Bath last summer, so it would be nice to go one place better here for connections I've enjoyed plenty of success with in the past.
15:35 Newbury – Alyanaabi
What can I say about this fellow? At his best he’s so talented, but he just doesn’t always show it! At Goodwood last time the front three went off very quick, and I was then hampered at a crucial time, lost my position, and was always on the back foot from there.
He’ll have a tongue tie on here, which hopefully will help. I have no doubt he is more than capable of winning a race like this, and he will be a decent each way price. He did win his first start of the season, and if the real Alyanaabi turns up here he will run very well.
16:10 Newbury – Bird Of War
Bird Of War has had two runs and improved from his first start to his second, which is what you want to see. He’s a lovely looking horse, and hopefully can take another step forward in what is a race for decent money. We’re against a few unraced rivals, so it’s hard to know how good the opposition might be.
16:45 Newbury – Shahbaz
Ian Williams is another trainer I've done well for over the years, and I won on this fellow over course and distance earlier this month. He's a horse that only just does enough, so I don't think a rise of two pounds in the weights is too harsh. We’ll be getting weight from all bar one of our rivals here, we know he goes well on the track, and I can see him going very close here as he bids to back up that victory.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
14:25 Newbury – Lil Guff
Lil Guff has run well in her four starts so far this year, winning at Bath in the spring and finishing third at Ascot on her most recent start. We’re drawn well in stall eight, and there’s no reason to think she won’t run her usual solid race, which should put her in the mix. I finished second on her at Bath last summer, so it would be nice to go one place better here for connections I've enjoyed plenty of success with in the past.
15:35 Newbury – Alyanaabi
What can I say about this fellow? At his best he’s so talented, but he just doesn’t always show it! At Goodwood last time the front three went off very quick, and I was then hampered at a crucial time, lost my position, and was always on the back foot from there.
He’ll have a tongue tie on here, which hopefully will help. I have no doubt he is more than capable of winning a race like this, and he will be a decent each way price. He did win his first start of the season, and if the real Alyanaabi turns up here he will run very well.
16:10 Newbury – Bird Of War
Bird Of War has had two runs and improved from his first start to his second, which is what you want to see. He’s a lovely looking horse, and hopefully can take another step forward in what is a race for decent money. We’re against a few unraced rivals, so it’s hard to know how good the opposition might be.
16:45 Newbury – Shahbaz
Ian Williams is another trainer I've done well for over the years, and I won on this fellow over course and distance earlier this month. He's a horse that only just does enough, so I don't think a rise of two pounds in the weights is too harsh. We’ll be getting weight from all bar one of our rivals here, we know he goes well on the track, and I can see him going very close here as he bids to back up that victory.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
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