July Cup Big Race Verdict: Balding can claim top sprinting honours at 10/1 on Saturday

July Cup
16:35, Newmarket
Live on ITV

Sportsbook behind Reve for revenge

The top level sprinting ranks have been desperate for some impetus and while there isn't quite the sprinting silverback at the moment, at least Almeraq and Mission Central have poked their heads out of the contenders to be genuine players - one a four-year-old and the other, a year younger.

The Sportsbook and punters are firmly behind the Japanese runner Satono Reve to gain revenge from the Ascot defeat at the hands of Almeraq and at 3/14.00 heads the betting, and he's been strong too from the 9/25.50 intially quoted.

Mission Central, on a four-timer, is a solid 11/26.50 and Big Mojo the only real market mover as of Friday morning from 10s into 17/29.50.

Three places too for each-way bets.

Royal Ascot rematch

1 (4)

Almeraq

• J: Tom Marquand
• T: William Haggas
• F:

Almeraq's success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee saw him hit a high of 199/1200.00 in-running and was allowed to go off a 25/126.00 poke before the race.

And messy at the end too; as four were in a line, and while Satono Reve was just denied, he arguably had a cleaner run more towards the stands' side in the main centre-pack group, where as Almeraq had to engineer a wider path.

On that run and the late surge, Almeraq needed every blade of that stiff 6f but he acts on good to firm no worries and looks to have a good draw in four.

Satono Reve's draw in eight could be tricky, unless the watering that took place on Thursday night will cause any sort of bias (and more to come on Friday evening no doubt), but my gut instinct is that he would have been primed for that Ascot effort, and while running in the July Cup might be more than an afterthought, I want to go against the crowd here and oppose him.

He does hold the best Timeform figure of 129 playing Almeraq's 126.

Satono Reve too has been strong in the betting - 9/25.50 into 3/14.00, but my take was he was in a better spot at Ascot to win, and still couldn't get his admirable head in front with all the cards in the deck in his favour.

More Royal Ascot winners lock horns

The added wave of excitement and surely a first for a July Cup, as we have the Commonwealth Cup, Wokingham, King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner and winners all running.

The Commonwealth 'one-three' Venetian Sun and Division might receive the boost injection if Spicy Marg puts up a worldie on Friday.

Venetian Sun travelled well in mid-division just off the pace at Ascot, with Division coming from a lot further back with the latter running a faster closing sectional at 12.11 seconds against Venetian Sun's 12.25.

With Havana Anna and Fitzella the horses behind, it perhaps didn't look the strongest ever Commonwealth Cup, but Venetian Sun came away with a decent Timeform figure and her sprinting reputation enhanced after trying her hand at a Classic in 1000 Guineas.

Two factors worry me. The potential rattling road-like ground and tactics from her position in stall nine. Clearly one for potential, but how many times have we earmarked a potential superstart for sprinting honours.

Double Rush is the improver too - and 124p, note the 'p' from the Halifax commissars, and his victory in the Wokingham was super tough - scoring from a mark of 105.

4 (11)

Double Rush (Ire)

• J: Oisin Murphy
• T: Andrew Balding
• F:

He tanked through the race up until the final stiff furlong, but he really did breeze into it down the centre of of the track as the field split into two.

His final furlong was telling at 12.36 seconds compared to the second Completely Random's 11.96, and Double Rush did appear all out.

A smaller field to contend with here and he looks well capable of bridging the gap from handicaps into this level as he'd scooted in with two handicap victories on the Rowley Mile.

I'd like a better draw than 11 but he'll race up with the pace and looks overpriced.

Pace map with draw

FRONT RUNNERS: Double Rush? (11), Quinalt (3).

PROMINENT: Almeraq (4), Big Mojo (2), Double Rush (11), Satono Reve (8), Coppull (6), Mission Central? (7).

MIDFIELD: Commanche Brave (10).

HOLD UP: Prince Of India (5), Division (1), Mission Central (7), Venetian Sun (9).

Trainer form

Aidan O'Brien: 15-79 since 11th June at 19%

William Haggas: 18-97 since 11th June at 18% and 2-8 at Newmarket this term 25%.

Andrew Balding: 21-124 since 11th June at 16.9% and 5-15 at 33% at Newmarket this term.

Karl Burke: 14-93 since 11th June at 15%

Marco Botti: 6-36 since 11th June at 16.7% and 11-63 at Newmarket last five seasons.

Alan Dudman's July Cup Verdict

We're relying on Royal Ascot form, but Wokingham form to trump the others and Double Rush with that Timeform 'p' is the most interesting for me and at 10/111.00 looks well worth exploring as the each-way bet.

It looks a little too obvious to stick with the Jubilee form and the one-two, but I want to give Division a chance with a more positive ride as through the first furlong in the Commonwealth Cup he was virtually stone last.

I am playing him with the draw in one, which opens up the stands' side route.

1) Double Rush

2) Division

3) Almeraq

Now read more tips from Mark Milligan here!