The July Cup Ante-Post Preview (15/07/23) – Azure Blue the early value in big sprint at Newmarket

It’s under two weeks now until the July Cup which takes place at Newmarket racecourse on the picturesque July course and so it seems a good time to have an early look at the field.

The July Cup is a Group 1 race open to three-year-olds and upwards over a distance of 6F. It’s one of Britain’s most valuable and prestigious sprint races with many of its winners acknowledged as the champion sprinter in Europe.

Aidan O’Brien is the joint leading trainer with five winners (Stravinsky, Mozart, Starspangledbanner, US Navy Flag and Ten Sovereigns) and last year went to the trip dropping Alcohol Free for the Andrew Balding and Rob Hornby combo.

It’s the only major race in the racing calendar that still eludes Frankie Dettori but it will remain that way as he will be missing from this year’s renewal (along with Oisin Murphy) having picked up a ban at Royal Ascot.

Here’s my horse-by-horse preview with my free horse racing tips for my ante-post selection.

Art Power

Trainer: Tim Easterby

Ran 4th to Starman (beaten 1 3/4L) in the 2021 renewal (only run at the track) and is a capable sprinter. Appears to save his best runs though for The Curragh where he’s unbeaten in three starts including back in May in Group 2 company when bolting up by 4 3/4L. Was well beaten in Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot having taken a keen hold and may just fall short of Group 1 standard nowadays.

Brad The Brief

Trainer: Hugo Palmer

Soundly beaten on only attempt in Group One company (14th of 18 to Kinross in Ascot’s Champion Sprint last October). Disappointing on his re-appearance at Newcastle last weekend when he should have done better as he had a 100% first-time-out record coming into that race. Hard to fancy.

Emaraaty Ana

Trainer: Kevin Ryan

11th and 6th in the last two runnings of this race. Went on from last year’s 6th to place in two Group ones at York and Haydock finishing the season off with a half-length runner-up in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland. Shown little in two starts this season, latest at Royal Ascot when finishing 11th of 16 to Khaadem which was his first since undergoing a wind operation. Hard to fancy on his latest efforts.

Kinross

Trainer: Ralph Beckett

Joint top rated (with Little Big Bear). Dropped in trip when winning Champion Sprint at Ascot’s Champions Day last October on good to soft ground. Ran without showing much on re-appearance in Ascot’s QEII Jubilee Stakes at their Royal meeting last month, coming home in 7th place of 16, beaten 5L by Khaadem. That would have brought him on but is rather ground dependent and would be a major player were ground to ride on the easy side. Was to be Frankie Dettori’s ride but he’s banned now.

Mount Athos

Trainer: James Tate

Dropped in trip in Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle last weekend when running out of puff close home finishing 5th beaten 7 3/4L. Doesn’t look up to this class and on official ratings has 16lb to find.

Run To Freedom

Trainer: Henry Candy

Was 2 1/2L runner-up to Kinross in Ascot’s Champion Sprint last October (good to soft) and ran out a head winner of listed race over 6F on fast ground in May. Ninth in Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and has a bit to find on that run though if back to his second last Autumn has place claims.

Twilight Jet

Trainer: M D O’Callaghan

Group 3 winner first time out last season at Naas but subsequently failed to beat a single horse in two top Group 1 sprints, including this race. Only beat one home in Group 2 at The Curragh won by Art Power in May and impossible to fancy.

Azure Blue

Trainer: Michael Dods

Has won his last four starts and is very much a sprinter still on the up. Stepped up from listed company to take the scalp of the re-appearing Highfield Princess in Group 2 City Of York Stakes in May by half a length. That form looks even better now with the mare going on to be placed in the two big Group One sprints at Royal Ascot last month. Very much a player now upped to the highest level.

Royal Aclaim

Trainer: James Tate

A smart filly who may just be short of Group One level. Ran with credit at Haydock when 7th to Dramatised in Group 2 Temple Stakes prior to a third in listed race at Ayr last month when sporting cheekpieces for the first time. Has yet to race at 6F and would need that to improve her to give her any chance here.

Vadream

Trainer: Charlie Fellowes

Winner of 6F listed event at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting on heavy ground and Group 3 5F Palace House Stakes on the soft ground already this season. Soundly beaten on the good ground twice since and will only come into the reckoning if the ground turned soft or heavy as she thrives on very soft terrain.

Alpha Zulu

Trainer: James Ferguson

Lightly raced three-year-old. Was well backed on debut when going down by half a length in Newcastle novice stakes prior to again being very well backed when, in a first-time tongue tie, winning a 6F novice stakes at Kempton in March. That form has worked out well but this is a massive jump in class and is overlooked.

Cold Case

Trainer: K R Burke

A progressive sprinter who won three times as a juvenile and started his three-year-old campaign off by winning the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot by 1 1/2L from The X O and Bradsell, form which was boosted by the latter’s Kings Stand victory at Royal Ascot. Beaten out of sight since in Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock won by Little Big Bear with connections saying he preferred an easier surface.

Little Big Bear

Trainer: A P O’Brien

Very smart two-year-old who was rated the best in Europe. Started the season in the 2000 Guineas over a mile when getting struck into and finishing plum last. Proved that run was totally wrong when dropping to 6F in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and even though he appeared to have a track bias still won comfortably. Went on to Royal Ascot where he went off a very well-backed 10/11 favourite in the Commonwealth Cup only to find Shaquille too good for him to the tune of 1 1/4L despite having first run on his rival. Obviously very speedy and should run his race although had no real excuse for his defeat to Julie Camacho’s Shaquille.

Shaquille

Trainer: Julie Camacho

Has been a revelation this season, improving with every run, graduating from a Newmarket handicap at the Guineas meeting off of 94 on soft ground to winning a listed race by 2L at Newbury a fortnight later and winning the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in remarkable style having fluffed the start but still coming through to pass the entire field and beat the warm favourite Little Big Bear by 1 1/4L going away at the line. Very much on the upgrade still and the one to beat though is short enough in the current market.

The Antarctic

Trainer: A P O’Brien

Useful two-year-old who was just short of the top company (placed in two Group ones). Winner of a Naas Group 3 in May by a hard from Ocean Quest and soundly beaten, beating just two home in the 7F Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. May not have stayed that day and the drop back to 6F here looks like a good move.

Zoology

Trainer: James Ferguson

Stepped up on his previous form when coming late to snatch second spot in Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, being beaten a length by Age Of Kings. Progressive but the way he finished that day suggested he might need further rather than shorter.

Lezoo

Trainer: Ralph Beckett

A smart two-year-old filly who won four of her five starts culminating in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket by 3/4L from Mediate. Mid div on re-appearance in soft ground 1M 1000 Guineas when blatantly not staying a mile. Was well supported in Group One Commonwealth Cup over 6F last month when running a rather disappointing 10th of 13 ( beaten 9L) and has questions to answer now.

Meditate

Trainer: A P O’Brien

Very smart two-year-old winning five of her seven starts including the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf over a mile. Has been campaigned over a mile this season finishing 6th in 1000 Guineas, 2nd to Tahiyra in Irish 1000 Guineas and 4th of 6 in Coronation Stales at Royal Ascot. Drop in trip not certain to suit and best watched even if she did turn up here.

July Cup Ante-Post Betting Tips

A fascinating renewal of the July Cup with the three-year-old sprinters taking on their elders. Shaquille ran an amazing race at Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup when despite starting slowly ran on to run down the hot favourite Little Big Bear and from watching that race it’s hard to feel that the latter can turn the tables.

That said Shaquille is priced accordingly at around the 9/4 mark and represents scant value at present. The ground is very important to the likes of Kinross and Vadream as both love the mud and can only be considered were the ground to ride soft.

The one to be with at present is Michael Dods’s Azure Blue who is a rapidly improving sprinter who’s taken giant steps this season and may still be on the upgrade if his defeat of arguably the best sprinter around Highfield Princess at York is anything to go by.

Dods is a past master at improving sprinters with the likes of Mabs Cross and Meccas Choice both progressing from handicaps to the top level and he might just have another here in the shape of Azure Blue.

AZURE BLUE 1 point each way @ 5/1 with Bet365 bonus code (Paying top 3 places at 1/5 odds)

All odds are accurate at the time of writing.