July Cup at Newmarket

highlight of the third and final day of Newmarket´s July Festival is the Group One July Cup over 6 furlongs at 16.10 CET. This promises to be a real classic, with a superb field. When the Golden Jubilee was run at Royal Ascot 3 weeks ago, it was generally regarded as the best sprint race in the world. Today´s race could be even better, as it includes not only the principals from that race but also from the King´s Stand as well. In fact every one of the 14 runners ran in one of those two Royal Ascot events.
The logical winner today is the ex-Australian Starspangled Banner (Aidan O´Brien/ Johnny Murtagh), most impressive when making all the running to win the Golden Jubilee and described by the trainer as the fastest horse he has ever had. Among those who reoppose today are Society Rock (James Fanshawe/ Pat Cosgrave), one of 2 3yo´s in the field, who ran on strongly to snatch seond place on the line, as well as U.S.-trained Kinsale King (Carl O´Callaghan/ Kieren Fallon) and Fleeting Spirit (Jermy Noseda/ Frankie Dettori), last year´s winner, who were close up third and fourth. We especially like Fleeting Spirit, as the filly was badly drawn at Ascot and was forced to race on the wrong side. She, Starspangled Banner and Kinsale King are now drawn next to each other, which adds to the spice. Marchand d´Or (Mikael Delzangles/ Davy Bonilla) won this race with a terrific burst of speed in 2008; he was well beaten at Ascot but can never be left out.
Equiano (Barry and Michael Hills) is right back to his best and won the King´s Stand in good style, with Australian hope Nicconi /David Hayes/ Damien Oliver) 4th and beaten favourite Kingsgate Native (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) sixth. However that race was over 5 furlongs and we expect the form of the Golden Jubilee to prove superior today, with Starspangled Banner and Fleeting Spirit our two against the field, with Nicconi and Kinsale King the next best.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Dance East - Sea Lord - Mr Irons
2. Race: Formosina - Klammer - Emperor Hadrian
3. Race: Palace Moon - Captain Brilliance - St Moritz
4. Race: Starspangledbanner - Fleeting Spirit - Kinsale King
5. Race: Ragsah - Mama Lulu - Apazine
6. Race: Rerouted - Liberty Cap - Breathless Storm
7. Race: Bay Willow - Bugaku - Speed Dating