July Cup preview: trainer quotes and punting pointers for the Group 1 sprint

4.40 Newmarket
Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1) | 6f | 3yo+| ITV/RTV

The Classic generation has held the upper hand in the July Cup in recent years with three of the last four winners proving youth often conquers experience at this stage of the season.

Heading the charge for the three-year-olds this year is Advertise, who put his name forward as potentially the leading sprinter of his generation with a clinical success in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month.

Advertise, one of last season's star juveniles, landed the Group 2 July Stakes over course and distance 12 months ago and once again has the assistance of Frankie Dettori, who for all his big-race wins across the globe, has yet to land the July Cup on his doorstep.

"It's tough and a bold move to take on older horses but it was a logical step," said trainer Martyn Meade. "He ran well in the July Stakes last year at the track and he gets the weight-for-age allowance.

"There's no Blue Point but Dream Of Dreams was only a short-head behind him at Ascot and, while three-year-old have a good recent record in the race, one can't underestimate the nature of the task.

"It's his toughest race yet and we just have to hope he can produce the form at Ascot, if not a little better."

Dream Of Dreams in 'tremendous form'

With Blue Point, winner of the King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, packed off to stud, it is left to Dream Of Dreams to lead the older generation into battle for Sir Michael Stoute and Danny Tudhope.

The five-year-old has come of age this year, building on wins at Chelmsford and Windsor to get to within a head of Blue Point in the Diamond Jubilee. He is rated the equal of Advertise on official figures, although has to concede 6lb in weight-for-age allowance to the three-year-old.

"He's in tremendous form," said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. "He looks a million dollars and everything has gone perfectly.

"I hope and think he's the one to beat. He's a different horse this year and we've discovered he floats over any ground. He's going there all guns blazing."

Varian intrigued by Cape Byron

Advertise is not the only Royal Ascot winner in the line-up, with Wokingham scorer Cape Byron going from handicap success to Group 1 level for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni.

The five-year-old has netted more than £170,000 already this season, with his Wokingham win over 6f following a gutsy success in the Victoria Cup over a furlong further at Ascot in May.

Lightly raced, he has 6lb to find with the protagonists on official figures but has already improved 10lb this season according to the handicapper and is a horse on the upgrade.

"I'm very happy with his condition," said Varian. "I think the track and the course will set up nicely for him. I think the question he has to answer in this grade is where is he going to measure up?

Roger Varian: intrigued to find out how Cape Byron fares going from handicap company to Group 1Credit: Edward Whitaker

"The Wokingham win was a Group performance of some description and I don't think he's out of place in the line-up. I think the race has some depth to it but an open look to it as well. We're intrigued to see how he gets one."

Ten Sovereigns leads O'Brien trio

Ten Sovereigns has yet to reach the dizzy heights of last year in 2019, but the Group 1 Middle Park winner has hardly been disgraced in his two runs this season and it may be a little premature to write him off just yet.

Unbeaten at two, Ten Sovereigns was fifth when favourite for the 2,000 Guineas on his first and only attempt at a mile and was only two and a half lengths behind Advertise back at 6f in the Commonwealth Cup.

O'Brien said: "Ten Sovereigns has been in good form since Royal Ascot. We're happy with him and looking forward to giving him another Group 1 run over the trip."

The trainer is bidding for a fifth win in the race and back-to-back successes after US Navy Flag delivered last year and he also runs Fairyland and So Perfect, who attempt to become the first filly to win the race since Fleeting Spirit in 2009.

Both are changing trip, So Perfect dropping back from 7f after finishing ninth in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot while Fairyland returns to 6f for the first time since winning last season's Cheveley Park Stakes having run in the English and Irish Guineas over a mile and finished fifth to Blue Point in the King's Stand Stakes over 5f.

O'Brien said: "Fairyland ran well in the King's Stand. She won the Lowther and the Cheveley Park over the trip last year and we've been happy with her since Ascot.

"We tried stretching So Perfect to seven furlongs but six is probably her ideal trip and she's in good form."

Ryan hoping Brando can play leading role

Third in the 2017 July Cup and runner-up last year, Brando attempts to make it third time lucky having bypassed Ascot to enhance his chance of landng a second win at the top level.

The 2017 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero looked strong when winning at Hamilton last month and the contours of the July course, similar to the Rowley Mile where he also has an impeccable record, bring out the best in him.

"He loves Newmarket and is in great form," said trainer Kevin Ryan. "We bypassed Ascot last year and we've done the same – this race has always been the plan. He's as good as ever."

Ryan also has Major Jumbo in the race, although the dry forecast looks likely to rule him out. "He would need some rain and he won't run unless they get some, which looks highly unlikely," said the trainer.

Limato goes for second July Cup triumph

Limato makes his fourth consecutive appearance in the July Cup as he bids to roll back the years and land the prize for a second time.

The popular sprinter took the race on his first attempt in 2016, was runner-up to Harry Angel the following year before putting in a below-par effort 12 months ago.

The omens are better on this occasion, as he tries to follow up victory at this track last month over 7f.

"He certainly seems to like the place," said trainer Henry Candy. "It depends whether Advertise keeps on improving, while Dream Of Dreams is getting better with age and might be the one.

"With his advancing years we thought this would be the last shot we get at the race and thought we'd give it a go. He can compete over seven furlongs for the remainder of the year. He's being wonderfully cheeky at the moment, which bodes well."

Pollyanna looking pretty back at 6f

Pretty Pollyanna landed the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes over course and distance at this meeting last year and returns to 6f for the first time this year.

A Group 1-winning juvenile at this trip, she was runner-up in the Irish 1,000 Guineas over a mile on her seasonal return before finishing down the field over the same trip at Ascot.

Pretty Pollyanna: 'I think we'll see a huge run from her,' says trainer Michael BellCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"She's in very good from and the track and trip saw her to very good effect last year," said trainer Michael Bell. "Oisin Murphy rode her in work last week and he's looking forward to it. She's got everything to suit and I think we'll see a huge run from her."

Glorious Journey on the right path

Glorious Journey has chased home Limato and Dream Of Dreams on his last two starts and the lightly raced four-year-old is heading in the right direction.

“Glorious Journey has produced two solid runs on his most recent starts," said trainer Charlie Appleby. "His second to Dream Of Dreams at Windsor was a good performance over six furlongs, while he was narrowly beaten by Limato last time out, which is another good form-line

"We know that Glorious Journey has bit to find with some of the leading contenders, but he won’t look out of place and I think he'll run another good race.”

Egan chases hat-trick with Lim's Cruiser

Completing the field is Singapore sprinter Lim's Cruiser, eighth in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has the benefit of race ace John Egan in the saddle, who has taken part in the July Cup only twice and was victorious both times with Les Arcs (2006) and Pastoral Pursuits (2005).

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