July Cup (Group 1)

A fascinating July Cup with 5 three-year-olds taking on 10 older horses.

Charlie Appleby has lit up the contest by supplementing his 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner of last year, Notable Speech. Fourth in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne, both over a mile this year, it’s clear he retains his ability. William Buick, you would imagine, will ride him aggressively

Godolphin also run the three-year-old Symbol Of Honour under Oisin Murphy, a winner of four of five starts this year. He took the G2 Sandy Lane last time out over 6f.

Andrew Balding’s four-year-old, Flora Of Bermuda, has been knocking at the door. She was beaten a ½L in the Champions Sprint Stakes last October, a neck in the Duke Of York Clipper Stakes, and while no match for Lazzat or Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, she still did best of the home team in finishing third. James Doyle rides.

Ryan Moore rides Whistlejacket for Aidan O’Brien. A very speedy two-year-old last year, he was repeatedly denied a clear run inside the final 1 1/2f in the Commonwealth Cup.

Whistlejacket at the Curragh last year

George Boughey’s Believing, in foal to Frankel, may be having her last run. Usually very consistent, she was below par in the King Charles III over 5f. She’s never won at Newmarket in five runs.

Of the others, Inisherin appeals having beaten Flora Of Bermuda in the Duke Of York Clipper Stakes.

It’s a gamble for Godolphin running Notable Speech over this trip; it could pay off spectacularly; however, the three-year-olds have the weight advantage. Stablemate Symbol Of Honour and Whistlejacket are serious contenders, and the vote goes the way of the Ballydoyle representative who was doing all his best work late in the Commonwealth Cup. He’s good value for a place.

Recommendation

Whistlejacket 6/1 ew