Never So Brave (5g No Nay Never - Chica Whopa, by Oasis Dream) returned to winning ways with victory in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday. The Andrew Balding-trained gelding had won last year’s Group 1 City Of York Stakes and followed up with some respectable efforts this campaign, including when second in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at York in June. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Never So Brave was in touch on the near side and made smooth headway from two furlongs out, taking up the lead from a furlong out and keeping on to win by a neck. Balding said: “Things haven't gone right for him so I'm delighted he could get a win. He's a talented horse, a pleasure to have in the yard, so I'm pleased both for him and his owner. “Everything that could go wrong in every race he's run this year has gone wrong so far, but it has worked out perfectly today. “Hong Kong would be a possibility and I need to talk to the owner and see if it is of interest to him. If it is then he might be a suitable horse to go there.” Never So Brave was bred by C O P Hanbury.