July Cup Day

Todays Racing Preview

We head into the last day of Newmarkets July Cup meeting with todays feature race of the meeting, which is a tricky puzzle to solve with some solid Royal Ascot form from the front runners. Golden Horde will be the likely favourite having landed the Commonwealth Cup last time out in a stylish manor and he would have every chance if reproducing that form, especially with 3 year olds having a good history in this race. The ground is likely to have a bit more cut in it today with the official going declared as soft which could hand the advantage to HELLO YOUMZAIN who won the Betfair Sprint Cup last year on soft ground and had a number of todays rivals in behind him in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. These rivals include Khaadem (4th) and Sceptical (3rd) and I see no reason why any of these will reverse placings with our selection. Southern Hills should prove better for his run behind Golden Horde last time out for the Aiden O’Brien team and Oxted could be another to look out for at bigger odds.

2 points Win- HELLO YOUMZAIN- 335 Newmarket 4/1

Yuri Gagarin could be a useful sort in the opener at Newmarket for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori having won both starts so far, but he is too short in the odds for any value and I’m prepared to take him on with the Archie Watson trained gelding MEDAL WINNER. He ran reasonably well in defeat in The Duke Of Edingburgh stakes at Royal Ascot behind Scarlet Dragon. His 2 previous runs were impressive and I think it would have a leading chance in what looks an easier race today. As long as there remains 8 runners in the race he looks a solid each way bet although Future Investment and Country will prove stiff opposition.

1 point ew- MEDAL WINNER- 1210 Newmarket 15/2

The trickiest race on the card looks like the 1500 with 9 of the 10 runners winning last time out. Hudson River and Master of the Seas are likely to be the market leaders given there powerful connections, but I’m going to take a very speculative punt on the outsider of the field MIAMI JOY. He landed a Kempton maiden at 40/1 on debut having run green at the start of the race but got going late on to win. He could do no more than win his race and at 50/1 it looks a huge price, although there is likely to be some nice sorts in the race. The 2nd placed, Night Moment and 3rd palces Rommel have both gone on to win since, so the form of the race also franks his chances.

0.5 points ew- MIAMI JOY- 1500 Newmarket 50/1

I liked SIR BUSKER’s victory in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last month and although the drop in trip isn’t certain to suit he still looks to be good value in the market at 12/1. If Oisin Murphy can time his run right he may be capable of landing this ahead of the 2 Hamdan Al Maktoum owned horses-Motakhayyel and Mutamaasik.

1 point ew- SIR BUSKER- 1610 Newmarket 12/1

The Betfred Heritage Handicap at Ascot throws up one of my tracker horses JONAH JONES who I have been waiting for since his 3rd placed effort at Haydock in early June. He really caught my eye that day having being boxed in at the start of the race and again hampered when he looked to mount his challenge. Eventually he was switched right and stayed on strongly to grab 3rd. He has a good draw today and can compensate for that defeat with David Probert taking over from Oisin Murphy in the saddle.

1.5 points win- JONAH JONES- 1550 Ascot 6/1

I think ZABEEL PRINCE looks Nap material in the 1715 at Leopardstown. Its a bit of a surprise to see Roger Varian send one over to Ireland and I don’t think he would have done so without reason. Colin Keane is booked for the ride which is another huge positive, he is rated way above todays rivals (OR 117) and he has gone well fresh in the past. Partick Sarsfield has been in great form of late although this is another step up in class and Ancient Spirit would come into cosideration for the Jessica Harington stable.

3 points win- ZABEEL PRINCE- 1715 Leopardstown 13/8