2023 Pertemps Network July Cup: runner-by-runner guide and tip
Harry Allwood puts each potential contender in the Pertemps Network July Cup at Newmarket under the microscope plus reveals his selection.
Enjoy every race from this year's Boodles July Festival live on Racing TV!
Who wins this year's Pertemps Network July Cup at Newmarket? At the time of writing, the ground is good to firm, although with rain forecast, there is a good chance the going will ease ahead of the Group One showpiece on Saturday.
A few of the potential contenders ideally need cut in the ground, while others will need the rain to stay away and the ground to remain as it is to be seen to best effect.
Shaquille heads the ante-post betting at a best-priced 15-8, and Azure Blue is now a general 3-1 chance following Little Big Bear's drift in the market since Aidan O'Brien advised his charge wasn't a definite runner due to a recent setback.
Hopefully the Commonwealth Cup runner-up does get the chance to take on his Royal Ascot conqueror again.
Here is a guide to the 14 contenders that remain in contention for the feature on day three of the Boodles July Festival, live on Racing TV.
1. Art Power
Trainer: Tim Easterby. Best odds: 33-1.
Appeared to be regressing towards the end of last year having suffered defeats at a lower level and was gelded ahead of this season, but proved he still has bundles of ability when storming to victory in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh two starts ago, a performance which suggested he could still be competitive at this level.
That said, although he has run well in Group One contests on numerous occasions, his record at the highest level reads 6443454880, and he's proved to be an inconsistent performer over the past 12 months.
Ran well in this race two years ago behind Starman after setting a fierce gallop from an unfavourable draw, and a case can be made for him on his best form, although his latest effort at Royal Ascot was discouraging, and others hold stronger claims.
2. Brad The Brief
Trainer: Hugo Palmer. Best odds: 80-1.
Took his form to a new level after joining Hugo Palmer's yard and looked a Group One performer when winning a decent renewal of the Greenlands Stakes last year.
Has only been seen twice since then, though, and missed two key engagements last season due to quick ground, so will need the rain arrive.
Things didn't go to plan for him on his first start at the highest level when losing a shoe in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint in October, and he looked in need of the outing on his return at Newcastle when last seen, despite the fact he has won twice when returning from lengthy absences in the past.
He's also won over this course and distance and deserves another tilt at this level, but it's hard to be overly confident about his chances.
3. Emaraaty Ana
Trainer: Kevin Ryan. Best odds: 33-1.
Produced a career best to win the 2021 Sprint Cup and has been placed in three Group Ones since then, including when a narrow second in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November.
Returned to action with a below-par performance at York this season and, after undergoing wind surgery again, shaped slightly better than the result suggests in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last time out having raced keenly.
Will need to take a big step forward from that effort to be competitive here, although it is worth noting that he tends to show his best form from August onwards, so it would be no surprise if he starts to hit form again soon.
Fast ground is also essential for this speedster, so connections will be hoping conditions remain as they are, and he's definitely got the ability to be competitive if bouncing back to his best. That's the big question mark, though.
4. Khaadem
Trainer: Charlie Hills. Best odds: 11-1.
Caused a huge upset winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at odds of 80-1 when last seen, which was a big step forward from his previous outings over the past 12 months.
That is one of the strongest pieces of recent form on offer, but will he repeat that performance here? He isn't the most consistent, and also has a quirk or two (he unshipped Jamie Spencer before the start at Royal Ascot), although is clearly in fine fettle having also gone close on his seasonal debut, albeit in a Listed race.
The fact he has been supplemented for £36,000 hints that he is pleasing connections at home, and maybe they have found the key to him again?
Charlie Hills' seven-year-old will need luck in running to score again here, and I probably wouldn't want to back him at any shorter than 10-1, given he comes with risks attached. He's one for the shortlist, though.
5. Kinross
Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Best odds: 6-1.
High-class performer who recorded a hat-trick of Group One wins last season, including when dropping back to this trip to win the QIPCO British Champions Sprint in fine style.
He was also a shade unlucky when a never-nearer second in the Breeders' Cup Mile on his final start last year and returned with a respectable effort behind Khaadem at Royal Ascot, which was being used as a stepping stone to this contest.
Ralph Beckett's charge travelled well before tiring late on there, and undoubtedly needed the outing, with connections aiming to prime him for this race in a bid to provide Frankie Dettori with his first July Cup victory (until he received a ban, anyway!).
The biggest factor to Kinross' chances will be the ground as he's best suited by some cut, and I expect he'll go off shorter than 6-1, if the rain arrives.
He's the highest rated contender in the field, and with the cobwebs now blown away, he looks sure to go close provided conditions are not too quick. William Buick is a positive jockey booking, too.
6. Run To Freedom
Trainer: Henry Candy. Best odds: 25-1.
A talented sprinter on his day and found only Kinross too good in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint last year on his second outing at the highest level having progressed from handicap company.
He also defeated Khaadem at Salisbury in May before finishing behind that rival at Royal Ascot when last seen where he started slowly, and this five-year-old does tend to miss the break, which is a negative.
Won his sole start at this track and and handles cut in the ground, but is likely to need a couple to underperform to be competitive.
7. Azure Blue
Trainer: Michael Dods. Best odds: 3-1.
A thriving sprinter who produced a career-best effort to defeat Highfield Princess, and a couple of her likely rivals here, in the Duke Of York last time out.
That form has been franked numerous times since, and Azure Blue was well on top at the finish having come from off the pace, so you could argue she was value for more than the winning margin.
One slight concern is that the runner-up would have needed the outing, and a few of her other rivals ran below-par, but the time was decent, and it's unlikely she has finished progressing yet.
Her record at Newmarket is also notable as she's won over this course and distance plus has scored three times on the Rowley Mile, while any rain that arrives will also aid her chances as connections have advised their rapidly-improving filly would not want the ground too firm. Another for the shortlist.
8. Royal Aclaim
Trainer: James Tate. Best odds: 40-1.
Looked a potential superstar when winning her first three starts, although things haven't gone to plan for her since then, and she could only manage sixth in last year's Nunthorpe when sent off the 5-2 favourite on her fourth outing.
Had excuses on her next two outings at Group level, but her latest defeat, when wearing first-time cheekpieces, in a Listed contest at Ayr was disappointing.
She remains lightly-raced and will step up to six furlongs for the first time on Saturday, a trip her sire scored at the highest level over.
However, she will need to take a big step forward to be in the mix and has plenty of question marks to answer now.
9. Vadream
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes. Best odds: 33-1.
Has run eight times already this year and gained her second Group Three victory when scoring at Newmarket in May.
That is probably her level, though, as she has now failed to land a blow five times in Group One company after finishing down the field in the King's Stand Stakes last time out.
Ideally needs some cut in the ground to show her best, and even that probably won't be good enough to score here.
She also holds an entry in the William Hill Summer Stakes at York on Friday, so may run there instead.
10. Cold Case
Trainer: Karl Burke. Best odds: 25-1.
Showed bundles of promise last year and signed his season off with a smart victory in the Listed Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar, a performance which signalled he could be a Group One performer this term.
Has always been held in high regard by Karl Burke who believed his youngster was going to be a better horse this year, and that proved to become evident when Cold Case returned to win a Group Three at Ascot in which Bradsell finished third.
It is fair to say the King's Stand winner was well below form there, especially as The X O, who was rated 94 heading into that race, finished second, and there were a few other disappointments in the race, too.
It is also a concern that connections blamed the good to firm ground for Cold Case's disappointment in the Sandy Lane Stakes last time out, so his chances will be increased with any ease in the going. He also came back sore after that outing, hence his absence since.
He's clearly got plenty of ability and is sure to have more to offer this season, so will have place prospects if the going is in his favour. Burke has also warned he may not run Cold Case if the ground is too firm.
11. Little Big Bear
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Best odds: 6-1.
Aidan O'Brien reported on Monday that his classy three-year-old is only "50-50" to run at Newmarket on Saturday, so it remains to be seen whether last year's champion juvenile takes his chance.
If he does participate, then he will need to step forward to defeat Shaquille following his effort behind Julie Camacho's stable star in the Commonwealth Cup last time out, especially as that rival was value for more than the winning margin suggests.
There were no obvious excuses for Little Big Bear's defeat there, either, and the son of No Nay Never hasn't performed to a rating of 124 so far this year. His recent setback will also be a worry if he does participate.
12. Shaquille
Trainer: Julie Camacho. Best odds: 15-8.
Has rapidly improved up the ranks on his past three starts having won a handicap off a rating of 94 in May and was last seen winning the Commonwealth Cup after scoring at Listed level on his previous outing.
Overcame a tardy start to score at Royal Ascot, and while that probably wasn't the strongest renewal of the Group One contest (a few of the leading players ran below-par, and the runner-up wasn't near his best) Shaquille's effort can be upgraded based upon how much ground he lost at the start.
Julie Camacho's superstar has now won six of his seven outings and it is highly likely he has more to offer yet, so is the one to beat, especially as this test promises to suit.
13. Lezoo
Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Best odds: 18-1.
A high-class performer in 2022, with the form of her Cheveley Park win working out well, and she was arguably unlucky not to remain unbeaten last season.
Had excuses on her return in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas (soft ground was against her plus she was always unlikely to stay a mile) but her latest effort, when tenth in the Commonwealth Cup, was underwhelming.
She showed enough at Newmarket on her return before fading to suggest she has trained on, and while she did race away from the main group last time out, she found little when asked for her effort.
Has plenty to prove now, and her connections, who will be represented by Kinross, have advised she is unlikely to run.
14. Meditate
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Best odds: 25-1.
Aidan O'Brien advised on Monday that it is "very possible" Meditate will retire instead of contesting the Pertemps Network July Cup, although that decision probably hinders on whether Little Big Bear is declared.
If last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner does run, then it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see her run well, with a return to sprinting unlikely to be a hinderance based upon how well she has travelled before fading over further on two of her starts this season.
It is also best to forgive her below-par effort on soft ground at Deauville when last seen, and she will be favoured by the return to quicker conditions.
Big-race verdict:
It is hard to know, at this stage, what the ground conditions will be like at Newmarket on Saturday, with a mixed forecast for the next few days.
The improving Shaquille is the one to beat on his latest effort but, if the going does ease, then it is worth taking him on with KINROSS who should be primed for this race following his effort at Royal Ascot, and has some of the best form on offer.Win hospitality for two at the Qatar Goodwood Festival! Click here to enter.
