Steve Ryder has had a look ahead to the prestigious Bunbury Cup, run on the Saturday before the July Cup.
Bunbury Cup - July Festival
The ante-post favourite for the Bunbury Cup, Carrytheone (7/1 Sky Bet), holds strong claims off the back of his 3rd place finish in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot but at a much bigger price I think DARK THIRTY (best priced at 33/1) is being overlooked in the market.
The Richard Hannon trained four-year-old finished well beaten in the same race but he should relish this return to Newmarket.
With form figures of 323113 across both Newmarket tracks in his career, he should run well back at this venue having been dropped 1lb by the handicapper for his Royal Ascot performance.
Prior to that he had won over 6f on the Rowley Mile on his reappearance before finishing 3rd behind subsequent Group 3 Criterion Stakes winner Noble Dynasty and Royal Ascot winner English Oak in a handicap over 7f.
Dark Thirty then disappointed at both Epsom and Ascot but returning to Newmarket will suit and four-year-olds have a good record recently with successes in 2019 and 2020.
Fast ground would be the preference for Dark Thirty and the long range forecast looks good and he looks worth backing for the stable who won this in both 2020 and 2021 with Motakhayyel.
Bunbury Cup - Dark Thirty 33/1 (0.5pt ew)
To back Steve Ryder’s ante-post tips for the July Festival at Newmarket directly through oddschecker at a guaranteed best price, click on the odds below.
