With British sport set to light up our screens this weekend with the Wimbledon finals, British Grand Prix and Cricket World Cup final taking centre stage, the Flat racing calendar has also served up a real treat with Newmarket, Ascot and York all providing some spectacular racing on Saturday afternoon.
It’s day three of the July Festival from Newmarket, and it’s the Group 1 July Cup that will be the showpiece event, while the Summer Mile and Ascot at the John Smith’s Cup at York are another brace of highly-anticipated races taking place in what is a sensational day’s racing on the level up and down the country.
We preview the July Cup and Summer Mile here:
4:40pm – July Cup (Newmarket)
Three-year-olds have won three of the last four renewals of the July Cup, so that will be an exciting statistic for Advertise backers, who comes into this Group 1 on the back of a fine victory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the Martyn Meade-trained star is the 3/1 favourite with BetVictor to claim this crown.
However, the son of Showcasing will face some notable opposition in the shape of Sir Michael Stoute’s Dream Of Dreams, who was last seen finishing second to Blue Point in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and has to be considered a major contender at 4/1 with BetVictor bookmakers.
Another Royal Ascot winner lining up is Roger Varian’s Cape Byron, who bound to glory in the Wokingham Stakes, but the 9/2 chance with 888Sport will need to build on that handicap win to land this prestigious prize, which should be a hard-fought contest from an array of horses in form.
Aidan O’Brien will unleash an eye-catching duo in the shape of Ten Sovereigns (9/1 with BetVictor) and Fairyland (10/1 with Paddy Power) as he looks to win the race for the second year on the bounce, while the triumvirate of Limato, Brando and Pretty Pollyanna add more depth to a race awash with potential and proven class.
4:00pm – Summer Mile (Ascot)
Group 2 action is on offer at Ascot with Andrew Balding’s Beat The Bank aiming to retain his Summer Mile crown, which he claimed with aplomb 12 months ago, and the classy five-year-old is a 7/2 second favourite with BetVictor to claim back-to-back wins and emulate Mutakayyef, who landed the double in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
His second placed finish in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot is top notch form, so if he can repeat that run then should be on the vicinity, but Paddy Power have Zaaki as the 9/4 favourite for this race, as he looks to build on a length win in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom Downs last time. A Listed winner at Ascot two starts ago, Zaaki is on the upgrade significantly, and if he can continue to blossom then he will put a tough challenge to Beat The Bank.
Away from the front two in the betting, Winter Derby winner Matterhorn (6/1 with Boylesports) returned to winning ways at Windsor on his last outing and warrants respect, while former Queen Anne winner Accidental Agent will want to show his positive side after refusing to race at Royal Ascot last time out, but if he starts then he is a major player at 6/1 with Paddy Power.
2019 July Cup Odds
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Odds correct as of 12th Jul, 15:30 Odds subject to change.
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