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Home Of The Brave heads a field of seven for the G2 Betfred Hungerford Stakes, the highlight of Betfred Ladies Day at Newbury this Saturday.
The Godolphin-owned four-year-old is the 11/8 favourite with sponsor Betfred for the seven-furlong contest.
The front-running four-year-old held off Convey (Sir Michael Stoute/Pat Smullen) by a neck to win the G3 Timeform Jury Stakes at Haydock Park in May and was last seen out finishing second to Dutch Connection in the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on July 26.
Convey followed that run at Haydock Park with two disappointing performances at Ascot but bounced back last time out with a decisive victory in the Listed Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract on July 24.
Marco Botti, who took the spoils with outstanding miler Excelebration in 2011, is represented by Golden Steps (Frankie Dettori). The five-year-old has relished the step up to seven furlongs on his last two starts, most recently landing the valuable Bunbury Cup in authoritative fashion at Newmarket on July 9.
Botti said today: "Golden Steps is well. He has obviously got a little bit to find on ratings but the race has cut up a little bit and the owner is keen to take a chance.
"He has enjoyed the step up to seven furlongs this season. It looks to be his best trip now because, although he won over six furlongs at Glorious Goodwood last year, he has lost that bit of early speed you need in the big sprints.
"That was why he didn't go for the Stewards' Cup. We spoke with connections and felt coming back to six furlongs on fast ground might be against him. He also likes a little bit of time in between races and, having won a lot of prize money at Newmarket anyway, the owner was keen to go for a race like the Betfred Hungerford Stakes."
The line-up also features Markaz (Owen Burrows/Paul Hanagan), who captured the G3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle in June, Haydock Park scorer Jallota (Charlie Hills/Jamie Spencer) and Dark Emerald (Brendan Powell/Adam Kirby). Richard Pankhurst (John Gosden/Robert Havlin), winner of the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2014, completes the field.
Betfred Hungerford Stakes - Betfred prices: 11/8 Home Of The Brave; 5/2 Convey; 13/2 Markaz; 10/1 Jallota; 12/1 Richard Pankhurst; 14/1 Golden Steps, Dark Emerald
There is also G3 action on the card courtesy of the £60,000 Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes (3.05pm) over a mile and five furlongs. The five runners for this contest include recent Goodwood G3 scorer Kings Fete (Sir Michael Stoute/Pat Smullen) and Humphrey Bogart (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey), who was fifth in the Investec Derby.
Others lining up in the Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes are Battersea (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni), a staying-on fourth in the G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last time out, St Leger entry Ormito (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) and Red Cardinal (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer), who steps up to Pattern company following two comfortable handicap victories.
Two-year-olds are on show in the £25,500 Listed Denford Stud Washington Singer Stakes (2.30pm) over seven furlongs. Past winners of this contest include future superstars such as Rodrigo De Triano, Lammtarra, Haafhd, Just The Judge and Belardo.
The five runners for the 2016 renewal include Escobar (Hugo Palmer/Frankie Dettori), who won on his only start over seven furlongs at Newbury on July 15. Mr Scaramanga (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) was third in the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last month while Frankuus (Mark Johnston/Adam Kirby), a son of Frankel, was a close third in Listed company at Ascot last time out.
Ambilis (Ralph Beckett/Pat Smullen) has finished runner-up on his two starts in competitive maidens at Newmarket and Goodwood while the field is completed by Argenterie (Marcus Tregoning/Jim Crowley), who was one place behind Ambilis at Goodwood.
The highlight of the card is the £25,500 Listed Bathwick Tyres St Hugh's Fillies' Stakes (3.55pm) over five furlongs for two-year-old fillies.
The 11 runners include the unbeaten Mrs Danvers (Jonathan Portman/Richard Kingscote), who cost just £1,000 but scooped a massive £122,925 prize when successful in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on July 16. Mrs Danvers re-opposes Stormy Clouds (Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs), the length and a quarter runner-up in the Weatherbys Super Sprint.
