The July Cup (Group 1)

The most prestigious sprint in the European calendar takes place at Newmarket in the shape of the July Cup. It’s always competitive and takes a real good speedster to win it.

Delegator heads the market and faith is required if your to open your wallet to take the short price on offer about him. There is no doubt he has class and he could well be resurrected to become a sprinter of the highest quality as over a mile he just only a hairs breath off the very best. He contested 6 f for the first time in the Duke of York Stakes last time out and came through it impressively. The ground will play a big part in his participation as it will have to dry considerably if he is to be seen at his best.

There are a number of seasoned sprinters to overcome in the older horses brigade but most are either exposed and aren’t up to top level or the ground has gone against them as is the case for the Australian Star Witness. That puts the onus on the three year olds to defeat the Godolphin hope. Dream Ahead, Libanno, Oracle and Elzaam are the younger contenders and all have chances. Weight for age along with ease in the ground could turn this sprint into a younger mans game.

Dream Ahead’s connections will pray to the rain gods tonight and if conditions turn in his favor he has got to have a great chance. As a two year old he threw in a mighty performance hammering a good field in the Middle Park Stakes leaving Strong Suit 9 L in arrears. David Simcock has had to be patient with him and his Royal Ascot run was always going to be a prep for this.

Elzaam would look to want it quick like Delagator having won by 6 L on G/F at Newbury before a fourth in the Golden Jubilee on the tacky Ascot turf. Libanno may be the weakest of the three year olds and again the surface may be against him.

That leaves Oracle whose form as a two year old would not have put him at the top of the Ballydoyle pecking order. He has only won once, at Cork on juicy ground. His runs this year have been over 7 f and a mile and they suggest he’s one with early speed who just hasn’t seen out the trip. Aidan O’Brien tries him here more in hope than confidence but the circumstance of ground and weight might just work out.

Too soft for Delegator, too quick for Dream Ahead might just be right for the Oracle.