The G2 Lennox Stakes is one of the richest G2 contests of the year and the 2017 renewal will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, at Goodwood Racecourse. Our ante-post betting market is already live. It looks a very open contest, but here are 3 horses that punters are backing in droves…
Home Of The Brave (IRE)
Age: 5 (Foaled March 6th, 2012)
Sex: Chestnut Horse
Breeding: Starspangledbanner (AUS) – Blissful Beat (Beat Hollow)
Trainer: H Palmer
Owner: Godolphin
Hugo Palmer’s inmate has won 7 of 14 races and the Starspangledbanner-sired 5-year-old is unbeaten, in 2017. Home Of The Brave saw off the challenge of Tasleet, in the King Richard III Stakes (Leicester), before clawing past Jungle Cat in the Criterion Stakes at Headquarters. The Godolphin runner may well go off as a marginal favourite. 2nd in 2016.
Spirit of Valor (USA)
Age: 3 (Foaled February 21st, 2014)
Sex: Bay Colt
Breeding: War Front (USA) – Stone Hope (USA) (Grindstone (USA))
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Owner: Smith/magnier/tabor/stonestreet Stables
Aidan O’Brien’s 3-year-old endured a frustrating start to the campaign and had been virtually written-off, following mediocre performances at Meydan, Newmarket and The Curragh. The War Front colt went-off as a 66/1 rank-outsider, in the Jersey Stakes, yet finished runner-up and just a neck behind Andre Fabre’s Le Brivido. The market was quick to take note and his victory in the Minstrel Stakes (back at The Curragh) was as a 5/2 joint-favourite. An interesting late-developer.
Dutch Connection
Age: 5 (Foaled April 6th, 2012)
Sex: Chestnut Horse
Breeding: Dutch Art – Endless Love (Dubai Destination (USA))
Trainer: C Hills
Owner: Godolphin
Won this race last year, despite drifting significantly to the right, with just a furlong left to travel. Dutch Connection has disappointed since then though, in 3 different countries. Outings at Deauville, Chantilly and Saint-Cloud all bore little fruit and while 6th place was probably an even-par in the Queen Anne Stakes, connections will have been dismayed with another 6th place finish in the Minstrel Stakes. Will a return to Goodwood lead to a rediscovery of form?
Others attracting bets include Limato, Dream Castle, Librisa Breeze, Dabyah and David Simcock’s Breton Rock.
Race Details
The race is named after the Duke of Lennox an additional title held by the Duke of Richmond (the man who actually owns Goodwood Racecourse). It’s not a particularly historic fixture, having only been established in 2000 when it replaced Newcastle’s Beeswing Stakes.
However, it has already been won by some very classy thoroughbreds such as Observatory, Court Masterpiece, Paco Boy and the 2015 champion Toormore. It’s a race that English trainers have enjoyed a huge amount of success in.
Betting With RaceBets
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