Newmarket July Cup preview
July 11, 2007
Newmarket July Cup Day Preview, written by Charlie McCann of online bookies www.betdirect.com
A maximum field to post for the July meeting feature from Newmarket the sprint championship of Europe the July Cup. After one race of the meeting there appeared a bias towards those drawn high, but it would be no surprise if the the vagaries of the July course threw up a couple of potential curve balls between now and 3.10 on Friday.
The July Cup looks a wide-open betting event with Sakhee’s Secret having been the ante-post punt of the event with www.betdirect.com customers. Originally a 12/1 shot he has been backed into 7/2 joint favouritism with www.betdirect.com following a fluent listed Salisbury success on fast ground. He had previously been less impressive on rain-softened ground at Newbury but, with the ground drying out, he ought to get his optimum underfoot conditions at Newmarket. Another who would prefer the ground on the fast side of good is the Richard Hannon trained four-year-old Asset so impressive on the Rowley course earlier in the season before running another blinding race when third in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
Others to consider include the dual Group 1 winner at 6f Dutch Art who drops back in trip having finished third in the 2000 Guineas and the fourth in the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile on his two starts this term. Amadeus Wolf was a big disappointment at Ascot but is reported to be working very well ahead of the race and looks well-berthed in stall 20, Aussie Raider Bentley’s Biscuit finished last in the King’s Stand Stakes last time but is considered better over the July Cup trip of 6f and the Coventry Stakes winner of 2006 Hellvelyn is a fascinating contender although he does return from a 287-day break. The Jeremy Noseda camp will want rain between now and Friday if the Golden Jubilee winner Soldier’s Tale is to put his best foot forward.
The big betting race of the day and indeed the meeting is the 7f Bunbury Cup. The extraordinary Mine has won the race in three of the last five years and he looks to have a cracking draw in stall 19. The Gaye Kelleway trained Fajr looked an unlucky loser in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and he has got stall 20, but he has nothing in hand of Dabbers Ridge who is the ante-post market leader with www.betdirect.com at 12/2. Sharing favouritsm is the Terry Mills trained Something who will love the drying ground and has looked ready for a step up to 7f in both starts so far this term.
Other highlights include the gp2 Superlative Stakes for juveniles over 7f. The Barry Hills trained colt Feared In Flight didn’t get the best of runs at the Royal meeting in the Chesham and is sure to be popular as will Hatta Fort who appeared to find 5f too sharp at the Berkshire track last time.
