Newbury tips: Home Of The Brave to triumph in Hungerford Stakes battle
Published:
David Metcalf | August 12, 2016
Home of the Brave looks tasty in Hungerford Stakes
Home Of The Brave lost little in defeat last time out and can get back to winning ways in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes on a cracking card at Newbury (16:10).
Trained by Hugo Palmer, the four-year-old battled on bravely to be beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Dutch Connection in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.
That is solid form which sets the standard in this line-up and Home Of The Brave had won both his starts this season going into that contest.
In the second of those the son of Starspangeldbanner made all and dug deep to beat Convey by a neck in the Group 2 Timeform Jury Stakes at Haydock.
There is no reason why he should not confirm the form with that rival, and Home Of The Brave is likely to get an easy lead and prove a tough nut to crack in what doesn’t look the strongest renewal of the 7f contest.
Battersea the Geoffrey Freer choice
In the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (15:05), Battersea looks decent value to land the spoils now eased in grade.
After landing a competitive handicap at Meydan back in February, the Roger Varian trained five-year-old ran a blinder in a Group 3 contest at the same venue when staying on in eye-catching fashion to finish fourth of 14 to Sheikhzayedroad.
It was a cracking effort given how the race panned out, and there was also lots to like about Battersea’s latest run at Newmarket when fourth to Big Orange in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes following a 126 day break.
After being held-up well off the pace by Andrea Atzeni, Battersea kept on nicely to be nearest at the finish and beaten 6 1/2 lengths.
The son of Galileo is entitled to come on a bundle for that outing and this respresents a drop in class.
Dollar ready to Reward backers
Dollar Reward has been knocking on the door of late and can gain a deserved success in the 7f handicap (15:40).
The Sir Michael Stoute trained colt improved in three outings as a juvenile, getting off the mark on the final of those when running on well to beat Nokhada by a cosy 1/4 lengths at Wolverhampton.
After shaping better than the bare result suggests in his first two starts this season the three-year-old ran a stormer when beaten just a neck by Gunmetal at Newmarket.
Dollar Reward allowed the winner first run before closing all the way to the line and only just failing to get up.
It was a cracking run given how the race panned out and the son of Shamardal backed it up with a similar effort when beaten just over a length by Fuwairt at Chelmsford.
The return to the turf is sure to suit and Dollar Reward’s current mark of 82 looks exploitable.
Newbury tips
13.55: Promising
14.30: Escobar
15.05: Battersea (NB)
15.40: Dollar Reward
16.10: Home Of The Brave (NAP)
16.45: Wapping
17.20: Cosmeapolitan
Related
