never so bold began his final season in the temple stakes at sandown park racecourse in may. racing over the minimum distance of five furlongs for the first time he took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won by half a length from the three-year-old primo dominie. on 21 june never so bold started 4/1 second favourite for the group one king's stand stakes over five furlongs at royal ascot. ridden by his trainer's brother-in-law lester piggott, never so bold took the lead two furlongs from the finish and quickly went clear of his opponents. he won by three lengths despite being eased down by piggott in the closing stages: according to timeform he "slaughtered" the opposition. there was some concern after the race when the winner appeared to be lame, the result of a condition which caused internal bleeding in his left foreleg after exercise. the condition recurred after the july cup at newmarket, but did not affect never so bold in the race, as he accelerated from off the pace to win by two and a half lengths from committed. at york racecourse on 22 august, never so bold won his third consecutive group one race as he beat primo dominie by two lengths in the william hill sprint championship (now the nunthorpe stakes).