No match for Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in Goodwood's G2 Qatar Lennox S. last time, Godolphin's Home of the Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) bids to get back on track in Saturday's G2 Betfred Hungerford S. at Newbury. Beaten 1 3/4 lengths by that rival in the seven-furlong test July 26, the front-running specialist at this trip had previously captured the Apr. 23 Listed Leicestershire S. and G3 John of Gaunt S. at Haydock May 28 and looks to have a more straightforward task than at the Glorious meeting. “We normally try to give him a little more time between his runs than this, but the racing programme is such that all these seven-furlong races come in the space of three weeks so we don't have a lot of choice,” trainer Hugo Palmer said. “He seems in good form. I'm very happy with him and it's fingers crossed.”
Beaten just a neck by Home of the Brave when second in the John of Gaunt, Khalid Abdullah's once quirky Convey (GB) (Dansili {GB}) looked much more straightforward than in the past when winning the Listed Pomfret S. over a mile at Pontefract July 24. “Convey had a couple of near misses at York and Haydock earlier in the season and won well in a little confidence booster at Pontefract the other day,” the owner-breeder's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. “He now has to step back up in class and take on the big boys again, but he is a talented horse and deserves to take his chance in a race like this. He has got plenty of speed, so the drop back to seven should not be a problem.”
Aside from the leading duo, this renewal lacks strength in depth with some exposed types looking to up their game. One who is unproven in this type of territory is Golden Steps (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who took the Bunbury Cup H. over this trip at Newmarket last time July 9. Trainer Marco Botti is taking advantage of the poor turnout for a race of this nature. “It will probably be too competitive, but we entered him and waited to see how the race shaped up,” he explained. “The field has cut up a little bit and the horse is in good form. He won good prize money in the Bunbury Cup, so the owner thought we might as well declare. He has a bit to find on the ratings, he's in good form, he likes Newbury and he runs his best races over seven furlongs now. He used to be like a sprinter, quite sharp and keen, but this year he's settled better and now gets seven furlongs well as he showed in the Bunbury Cup.”
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