Botti hungry for ex-celebration in Frankel’s absence

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

The three-year-old chased home 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.