Never So Brave leads a strong Hungerford line-up
Never So Brave is the most notable name among a competitive field for the Group Two Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes at Newbury. The gelding arrives on the back of a productive campaign last season that included success at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes and a pattern of good performances at a mile, making him a principal contender over seven furlongs.
Form and profiles
Trained by Andrew Balding, Never So Brave showed his best form over the course of last year, adding the Summer Mile and the City of York to his record. He has yet to win in four starts this season but has been running in high-class company, most recently contesting the Sussex Stakes.
Coppull is another to watch. Lightly raced, he produced his best performance to date in the July Cup when finishing a close fourth, and steps up in trip to seven furlongs for the first time. That move in distance is a notable change in his pattern of races and could reveal further progress.
Symbol Of Honour also steps up to seven furlongs after not contesting the trip since early in his three-year-old campaign. He has a very respectable record at Newbury, with two course victories including a recent success in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes, and brings course form to the table.
Extremely Zain is another interesting contender. William Haggas’ representative arrived at the International Handicap at Ascot unbeaten but finished fourth there; like several in the line-up, he remains relatively unexposed and could show another level of improvement.
Context for Ascot followers
Never So Brave’s Royal Ascot success makes him especially relevant to followers of the big festival meetings. His record on the circuit and in pattern company gives him a clear profile for connections and punters who track horses that perform well at the major summer meetings. Meanwhile, several runners in the Hungerford have recent experience at the top level or at high-profile meetings, underlining the race’s role as a mid-summer test for milers and sprinter-milers.
Other races of note for festival-goers
- The Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury brings Dubai Honour back to action. The gelding has an extensive record of runs and victories to his name and faces a five-strong opposition.
- Up at Ripon, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap features an open-looking renewal with Fast Track Harry, Lord Roxby and Dark Cloud Rising among those expected to be competitive in a typically hot handicap.
- Across the European programme, Deauville stages Group Two contests including the Prix Alec Head and the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, while a Group Three at Deauville also highlights the day’s continental pattern action.
What to expect
The Hungerford frequently attracts a mixture of established pattern performers and improving types stepping up or down in trip. This year, the presence of horses with recent Ascot and high-class experience makes the race of particular interest to those following form through the summer festivals. Several contenders carry the hallmarks of horses still progressing, which is a feature of competitive seven-furlong contests at this time of year.
Racegoers and festival followers will also find the supporting programme across Newbury and Ripon to be of interest, with pattern and valuable handicaps complementing the feature.
