Inisherin heads a field of 12 for the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.
July Cup 2024
12 will go to post for Newmarket’s July Cup, headed by Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin. Architect Tips previews the leading runners for the race.
July Cup 2024 Runners
Inisherin (11/4)
Took full advantage of Vandeek’s below-par return when winning the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock by nearly four lengths.
As a result, he relished the drop in trip to 6f, having finished a creditable sixth in the 2000 Guineas in his previous outing.
He then backed that up with an even more impressive display in taking the Commonwealth Cup, which consisted of speed, pace, and a turn of foot.
It wasn't the strongest of renewals, but he got the job done in the manner of a serious improver, with better to come.
The magnitude of the performance he delivered on just his second start over a sprint trip at the Berkshire venue suggests Kevin Ryan’s charge is going to be difficult to beat.
He deserves his position at the top of the market and has a sound chance of upholding previous form with Vandeek.
Vandeek (4/1)
Last season's leading British-based juvenile bids to get back on track after being forced to miss Royal Ascot due to a setback.
That may have been a perfect explanation as to why he underperformed on his return when he was only third behind Inisherin in the Sandy Lane Stakes.
However, Simon and Ed Crisford’s double Group 1 winning sprinter has the beating of River Tiber and is reportedly in good form now.
Should he rekindle the form he showed last season, with more to come, he is undoubtedly going to be the biggest threat to his old foe. If you ignored his latest return, he would be shorter in the betting.
His win in the Prix Morny on soft ground prior to taking the Middle Park Stakes on good to firm ground confirmed his ability to produce his peak form under different conditions.
He travels through his races very smoothly and, interestingly, remains the highest rated runner in the line-up. Solid place claims if he can recapture last season’s brilliance.
River Tiber (7/1)
Winner of his first three races last season but proved no match for Vandeek in a pair of Group 1s when he finished third in each of those.
Made a pleasing comeback when third to Rosallion in the Irish 2000 Guineas but seemingly suffered the bounce-factor when a disappointing eighth to Haatem in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He will not only need to bounce back to have any say in the matter but also turn in a career-best if he’s to live with Vandeek, who has comfortably had his measure.
Despite being Aidan O’Brien’s main representative in the race, he is hard to recommend on the back of his latest effort at a lower level. He’s plenty short in the market for a horse who has no top-level success.
Regional (15/2)
Ed Bethall’s charge has performed with enormous credit in both starts this season, finishing second in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes and the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes when last spotted.
Last season’s Sprint Cup winner only found Australian challenger Asfoora too good last time out but stayed on well to only be beaten a length, which hinted that he’s more than ready for a return to his favoured 6f.
The RPR he achieved indicated that it was a career-best performance, and there’s a good chance the ground will continue to dry out. Everything looks in place for him to be competitive.
Kinross (15/2)
Dual Group 1 winner and aims to go two places better than when third in this race last year. He shaped very promisingly on his return at Newcastle, despite looking a little undercooked, when second to the race-fit Montaasib.
He travelled well and quickened to the lead inside the final furlong but was nabbed near the finish, suggesting he would come on plenty for the outing.
The seven-year-old’s best form would no doubt see him competitive, and this race has been the main plan for the summer.
However, this will be a much tougher assignment for him than last time, so it’ll be interesting to see if he still has the qualities to serve it up to the main two players.
I can see him running well, but for win-purposes, he’s vulnerable, especially given the quick two-week turnaround.
Jasour (14/1)
Successful over C&D last year in the Group 2 July Stakes, and although he disappointed on his next couple of starts, he clearly matured ahead of his return, learning to settle better. That proved to be the case when producing a last-to-first win in the Commonwealth Cup Trial.
He arrived at Royal Ascot fresh, having been pulled out of the Sandy Lane due to soft ground, and did well to finish third. On that form, he has a few lengths to make up on the winner, but his course form will stand him in good stead, and he should be thereabouts.
July Cup 2024 Tips & Predictions
INISHERIN (best price 2/1) has produced back-to-back smart performances since going sprinting, taking the Sandy Lane Stakes prior to dismantling his rivals in the Commonwealth Cup last time out. Kevin Ryan’s charge has more to offer and has the beating of quite a few of these, so he is fancied to land a second Group 1 success.
