Home Of The Brave Targets July Cup

Godolphin's Home Of The Brave is to be supplemented for the G1 Darley July Cup, over six furlongs, at Newmarket on July 9.

He will attempt to emulate his sire, Australian-bred Starspangledbanner, who won the race in 2010 following his triumph in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot the same year. His grand sire, Choisir, was runner-up to Oasis Dream in the 2003 July Cup.

Hugo Palmer, who trains Home Of The Brave, is greatly looking forward to saddling the progressive four-year-old in Europe's premier sprint next month.

"I'm very excited about the prospect of trying Home Of The Brave over six furlongs for the first time since his excellent run in last year's G1 Commonwealth Cup," Palmer said.

"He is a bigger, stronger horse now, which I hope, allied to the remarkable speed he's always had, will make him a force to be reckoned with over the distance," he added.

Home Of The Brave finished sixth to Muhaarar, beaten six and a quarter lengths, in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June 2015.

All his four runs since have been over seven furlongs, including his first run for Godolphin, which resulted in a courageous win in the G3 Jury Stakes at Haydock on May 28.

He is likely to be joined in the July Cup field by Godolphin's Jungle Cat, who finished an excellent fourth to Profitable in the G1 King's Stand Stakes, over five furlongs at Royal Ascot last week.