15:35 Newmarket

Saturday 11 July 2020

All12:1012:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 1m 9.59s

(13)

Brando¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 112| D

50/1

Group 1 winner and second in this in 2018 (may have won with a better draw that day); good second at Newcastle latest in a Group 3 but his powers are on the wane these days as far as Group 1 class is concerned.

Form: 7244-52

(8)

Equilateral²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: C Hills| OR: 112| D

28/1

Good second behind stablemate Battaash at Royal Ascot but all his best form has come at 5f and needs to prove he can be as effective on ground this soft.

Form: 616-122

(12)

Hello Youmzain²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 118| D

9/2

Added to his Group 1 Sprint Cup success with a win in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot on return; could yet be more to come from him and proven in conditions; leading claims.

Form: 41318-1

(1)

Khaadem²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 114| CD

13/2

Well backed Stewards' Cup winner last year and while he couldn't build on that in Group 1 company on two subsequent starts in 2019, it was a much better effort behind Hello Youmzain at Royal Ascot; may struggle to reverse form though.

Form: 72100-4

(7)

Namos²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: D Moser| D

33/1

Three-time Group 3 winner in Germany, most recently over 7f at Dresden but has failed to land a blow in previous Group 1 forays and needs to improve plenty to land this.

Form: 504-311

(9)

Oxted³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: R A Teal| OR: 112| CD

12/1

Portland winner on final start of 2019 and tookanother step forward when landing a Group 3 here on the Rowley course. Less exposed than most and has run well on both previous visits here but does need to improve again.

Form: 26421-1

(11)

Sceptical^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: D Hogan| OR: 116| BF| D

18/5

Beaten favourite when third behind Hello Youmzain at Royal Ascot in a career best effort. May struggle to reverse that form here though given that rival will relish these conditions.

Form: 31-1113

(10)

Sir Dancealot¹⁴

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

40/1

Four-time Group 2 winner and seems a 7f specialist these days; good fourth in this race in 2018 but this is probably a stronger renewal and others preferred.

Form: 4510-04

(6)

Golden Horde²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 118| D

2/1

Only narrowly denied in the Middle Park Stakes on final 2yo start and impressive Commonwealth Cup winner on return at Royal Ascot; that probably wasn't the strongest renewal so might be a shade vulnerable as a short priced favourite here.

Form: 15132-1

(5)

Lord Of The Lodge²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 109| D

100/1

Took his form to a new level when runner-up in the Gimcrack last year; made easy work of a conditions race at Newcastle in February but couldn't land any blow in the Jersey latest; others preferred.

Form: 0612-18

(2)

Southern Hills²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101

28/1

Windsor Castle winner last year and not disgraced when seventh behind Golden Horde in the Commonwealth Cup on return; yard have won the last two renewals of this and no surprise if he took a sizable step forward here.

Form: 521-7

(4)

Threat²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Hannon| OR: 114| D

8/1

Dual Group 2 winner who finished fifth in the Middle Park Stakes on final 2yo start (Golden Horde second); unsuited by the step up in trip on return at Royal Ascot and respected back sprinting.

Form: 22115-5

Non-Runners

(3)

Shine So Bright⁷

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Golden Horde (2/1), Sceptical (18/5), Hello Youmzain (9/2), Khaadem (13/2), Threat (8/1), Oxted (12/1), Equilateral (28/1), Southern Hills (28/1), Namos (33/1), Shine So Bright (33/1), Sir Dancealot (40/1), Brando (50/1), Lord Of The Lodge (100/1)

The form of HELLO YOUMZAIN's latest success at Royal Ascot looks rock solid and it would be no surprise if he could take another Group 1 here with a nice draw and conditions in his favour. Golden Horde looks the best of the three-year-olds but it would be no surprise to see Southern Hills take a step forward from his reappearance at the Royal meeting for a yard with a fantastic recent record in this race.