14:15 Newmarket

Saturday 14 July 2018

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:5516:30

Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 1m 11.32s

(10)

Blue Point²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 120| D

5/2

Produced a career best effort to win the King's Stand last time and he gives the impression he will relish the step up to 6f. Fast ground in his favour again and he's run well here before without managing to get his head in front. Leading claims.

Form: 341-291

(4)

Brando⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 114| BF| D

14/1

Group 1 winner in Deauville last year and has three wins on the Rowley Course to his name. Not at his best at the Curragh last time when slow out the stalls and usually finds a few too good at this level. Others preferred.

Form: 976-124

(14)

Dreamfield²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 107| BF| D

6/1

Won his first three starts and only narrowly touched off in the Wokingham last time out when giving his chance away by hanging in the closing stages. Has a bit to find to mix it at this level but less exposed than most at least.

Form: 11/12

(1)

Intelligence Cross^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| D

66/1

Narrowly denied when dropped to Listed class at the Curragh last time out but looks vulnerable back at this level. Ensured a strong gallop for a stablemate in this last year and while he ran well in defeat, he may be performing similar duties here.

Form: 610-702

(6)

Limato²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 117| CD

8/1

Won this in 2016 but has not been seen at his best since. Campaigned over a trip beyond his optimum so far this campaign and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to some extent here, though this looks a stronger renewal than 2016.

Form: 3241-00

(2)

Redkirk Warrior^b,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Regan Bayliss| T: David & B Dabernig| OR: 121| D

11/1

Three-time Group 1 winner in Australia. Failed to run his race when behind some of these on UK debut in the Diamond Jubilee but no doubt he's better than that and he wouldn't be the first horse to run poorly straight off the plane. Better expected.

Form: 100-110

(7)

Sir Dancealot¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: G Mosse| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 114| C| D

16/1

Group 3 winner (7f) here last time, a career best. The drop back in trip is no concern and his jockey rides this course well; while he needs to take his form to a new level, there's plenty of pace on and he will be doing his best work in the finish.

Form: 5-23171

(8)

Spirit of Valor^b,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| D

33/1

Group 2 winner at the Curragh last year and only beaten 1L by the subsequent Diamond Jubilee back at that course two starts back but that rival probably still needed the run. Well beaten at Royal Ascot last time and more needed.

Form: 104-828

(9)

Eqtidaar²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 114| D

8/1

Produced a big effort when runner-up in a Group 3 on his return and took his form to a new level when winning the Commonwealth Cup last time, despite hanging in the closing stages. Unexposed but perhaps a little vulnerable against the older horses.

Form: 14-241

(11)

Fleet Review^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| D

50/1

All three wins have come at the Curragh, including last time when narrowly getting the better of stablemate Intelligence Cross. More needed back at this level but did run a big race in the Middle Park Stakes on the Rowley Course as a juvenile.

Form: 92-3201

(5)

Sands Of Mali²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 116| D

7/1

Group 2 winner as a juvenile and only narrowly denied in the Commonwealth Cup by Eqtidaar last time. Up against it here against the older age groups though and while still progressing, looks vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 109-112

(13)

Sioux Nation^t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| BF| D

18/1

Group 1 winner at the Curragh as a juvenile and landed a Group 3 at Naas in May. Runs either side of that have been below par though and well beaten in the Commonwealth Cup last time out. Has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 116-410

(12)

U S Navy Flag^b²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

8/1

Dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile. Things haven't panned out for him so far this year campaigned over 1m but he's produced his career best efforts here (on Rowley Course) and can't be dismissed with the step back in trip likely to suit.

Form: 10-4529

Non-Runners

(3)

Invincible Army²²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J Tate J: P J McDonald

Forecasts

Blue Point (5/2), Dreamfield (6/1), Sands Of Mali (7/1), U S Navy Flag (8/1), Eqtidaar (8/1), Limato (8/1), Redkirk Warrior (11/1), Brando (14/1), Sir Dancealot (16/1), Sioux Nation (18/1), Invincible Army (25/1), Spirit of Valor (33/1), Fleet Review (50/1), Intelligence Cross (66/1)

BLUE POINT was impressive in the King's Stand over five furlongs last time and connections had previously said he would be a better horse over this trip. He was well fancied to reverse form with top UAE sprinter Ertijaal at Meydan over this trip in the spring before he was withdrawn at the start and he shaped like he would relish the extra furlong when an impressive winner at Ascot. The son of Shamardal is taken to get the better of Redkirk Warrior who wasn't at his best on UK debut at Ascot but the Australian raider is better than that and sprint form from the Southern Hemisphere can often prove strong. Dewhurst winner U S Navy Flag isn't ruled out returned to sprinting.