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16:40 Newmarket – July Cup
Today features the showcase race of the Newmarket July meeting. The Group 1 July Cup.
This years renewal looks a very open affair. Advertise will be the likely favourite, in a bid to follow up on his latest success in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Connections tried to stretch him out over the mile in the Guineas, but he failed to stay. He was dropped back to sprint trips and had blinkers applied for the first time at Ascot and it certainly did the trick. Two doubts spring to mind however, the fact that head gear was applied in the first instance can sometimes imply a horses character is in question, also will the blinkers have a positive effect second time round?
Dream Of Dreams ran a mighty race in the Diamond Jubilee, only just failing to overhaul Blue Point. That form is by far the best piece in this field. He is improving race by race, and a repetition of that run gives him a huge chance.
Cape Byron is an intriguing runner, slightly frustrating last season, albeit consistent, connections have found the key to him this term dropping back to 6 furlongs. Impressive in his last two victories but this represents a massive step up in class. Classy handicappers have been known to make the leap to a higher level but at the current prices he represents no value.
Team O’Brien run three 3 yr olds in the race. Ten Sovereigns an Impressive 2yr old, hasn’t set the world alight so far this season. He has ran with credit though without looking like he has improved a great deal. It is still early days and he shouldn’t be discounted to readily. Fairyland deserves a mention after performing well at Ascot over a shorter distance but it will take a career best to appear in the money.
The key to this might be a previous race here at HQ where Limato and Glorious Journey fought out the finish in the Criterion Stakes. Limato is a class individual on his day, and that win last time should set him up nicely for another crack at this prize. Racing under his ideal conditions, a brisk, 6 furlong race, on decent ground. Thus years renewal is an open contest but if he gets the run of the race he has the class to take this field apart.
Big chance for Limato to bag another massive prize at the expense of Dream Of Dreams and Glorious Journey.
LIMATO (WIN)
ITV RACING: ASCOT 13:45 – EEH BAH GUM (WIN) YORK 14:05 – CASPIAN PRINCE (WIN) NEWMARKET 14:20 – MOTAKHAYYEL (WIN) YORK 14:40 – (See Below) NEWMARKET 14:55 – KINGS COMMAND (WIN) YORK 15:15 – RISE HALL (WIN) NEWMARKET 15:30 – (See Below) YORK 15:50 – EXEC CHEF (E/W) ASCOT 16:00 – ZAAKI (WIN) NEWMARKET 16:40 – LIMATO (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
14:40 York
Theres value here today in Sea The Lion who may well go off shorter than the current 8/1 available. He looked sharp in his return at Curragh last month, trainer Fahey’s horses often do well after a run out. It’s easy to forgive him running out of steam in the final furlong in his first race in nearly twelve months and he should be all the better for it come Saturday afternoon. His form speaks for itself, three wins in the past five, not once finishing outside the top three. It’s the younger horses in the running that pose the real challenge. Gold Mount in particular came back with a bang at York as he finished really strongly when seeing off Raheen House who also runs here in the same race. He will certainly be making his impression felt based on that performance. Weekender is a well respected horse coming into todays challenge with a convincing win. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the price of Kelly’s Dino who ran a blinder last week, easily outrunning the starting odds of 14/1. Currently 20/1 at the time of writing, I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes off shorter but it will take a big step up even from that win for her to mount a realistic challenge on those at the top end of the market.
SEA THE LION (WIN)
written by Nathan Lauder
14:40 York – RAHEEN HOUSE (WIN) – Matt Polley
The Cambridge News – PicksfromthePaddock.co.uk:
14:40 York – SEA THE LION (WIN)
The Jersey Evening Post – Rory Paddock:
15:30 Newmarket – SOLAR GOLD (WIN)
East Anglian Daily Times – Dean Kilbryde:
16:35 Ascot – FAYLAQ (WIN)
Norwich Evening News – Chris Connolly:
14:35 Chester – ROCK ON BAILEYS (WIN)
Ipswich Star – Matt Polley:
15:30 Newmarket – KEYSER SODE (WIN)