More Thunder took the step up to group company in his stride when running out a ready winner of the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Despite only scrambling home by a nose in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time out, William Haggas' progressive three-year-old, who was also an unlucky loser when denied a head in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, was sent off a well-backed 6/4 chance under Tom Marquand.

Stepping up to group level for the first time, More Thunder travelled strongly in the hands of Marquand, who was happy to bide his time behind the pacesetters.

Punters that had sided with the market leader had a brief moment of worry when More Thunder was forced to wait for a gap to open at the two-pole, but once daylight became visible, Marquand's mount produced a fairly electric turn of foot to shoot to the head of affairs.

Those in behind attempted to keep tabs on the new leader, but in all truth, they never looked like getting back on terms with More Thunder, who stretched clear to score by an impressive two- and-a-quarter lengths from the Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole-trained Lennox Stakes scorer Witness Stand.

"It's nice. He's fulfilling what we sort of thought he might do," said Marquand on Sky Sports Racing.

"That was a pretty dominant display I thought. After the Bunbury Cup I was convinced that the tempo was the problem, I know he managed to win that day, but we didn't see the best of him.

"It's nice when they justify what you think, and you end up being right about it. It was a complete performance."

The son of Night Of Thunder holds plenty of entries over distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile, with trainer William Haggas keen to keep options open.

Speaking to the PA, he said: "He's progressing well. I was very pleased with him today, he won well.

"I still don't really know what his best trip is, but he seems to be getting better anyway, and he was strong at the finish today, he wasn't stopping.

"I think he's quite effective if not at his best on slower ground and he's been fun. He's done very well and beat a horse who won a good race last time, so hopefully the form is strong, and he's won comfortably so I'm delighted.

"I would say all options are open for him. We're in everything from six furlongs to a mile and he's won a Group 2 now so we've got to go for another Group 2 or a Group 1, and it will just depend on how many more races we're going to give him this season."