Never So Brave seeks first win of season as Sky Sports Racing covers five-course flat card
Andrew Balding’s gelding looks to end a winless run this year amid a busy Saturday of UK and French flat racing broadcast live from 1.25pm.
Never So Brave is set to return to the track in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, aiming to secure a victory after a winless year in which he has finished in good company. The Andrew Balding-trained gelding holds the strongest form in the field, having enjoyed a successful campaign last year with wins in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, the Summer Mile, and the City Of York. Despite being nought from four this year, he remains a key contender heading into the feature event.
He faces stiff competition from Coppull, who is stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time. Coppull produced a career-best performance in the July Cup, finishing narrowly beaten fourth, and is expected to improve on that effort. Also challenging is Symbol Of Honour, who has a perfect record at Newbury, having won both previous starts at the course, including the Group Three Hackwood Stakes. Like Coppull, he is stepping up in trip and has not been seen over this distance since his first start as a three-year-old.
The Newbury card also features Dubai Honour, who returns after finishing fourth in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April. The William Haggas-trained gelding has won 12 races from 37 starts, including four Group Ones, and has earned over £5 million. He takes on five rivals in the opening race, the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
In other notable matchups, Mount Atlas and Tabletalk are set to clash for the fourth time, with Mount Atlas carrying three pounds more weight after winning two of their previous three meetings. Rebel Rocket, the only three-year-old in the Newbury field, steps up in trip for the first time since finishing sixth in the Derby. Gamrai, recently purchased by Victorious Forever and switched to George Scott from John and Thady Gosden, remains unexposed after being pipped in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Across the UK and France, Sky Sports Racing will broadcast live coverage starting at 1.25pm. At Deauville, Rabbit’s Foot returns having beaten Group One scorer Tiffany in June. At Doncaster, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap features Fast Track Harry and Lord Roxby, both of whom hold strong claims. The day’s action also includes races at Lingfield and Ripon, providing a comprehensive schedule of flat racing for viewers.
