Flying filly Fleeting Spirit to take July Cup for second year running
THERE is an international flavour to today’s July Cup at Newmarket with speedsters from Australia, the US, France and Ireland taking on the home contingent. However, I think the prize will stay in Newmarket and Jeremy Noseda’s FLEETING SPIRIT can become the first horse since Right Boy in 1959 to win the race back-to-back.
This is one gutsy filly who has run consistently well at the highest level for the past three seasons. I was deeply impressed by the way she put this race to bed 12 months ago, despite hanging badly in the closing stages. She holds her form very
well and her reappearance fourth in the Golden Jubilee was excellent, as she was drawn on the wrong side of the track.
That run will have put her spot on for this and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle,n I think she will win. Starspangledbanner is a worthy favourite following his power-packed performance at Royal Ascot, but he’s been on the go since August and has only registered consecutive wins once in his 13-race career. Golden Jubilee winners also have a poor record in this race and I’d be willing to lay him on Betdaq at 6/4 or shorter.
Of the others, Equiano and Nicconi lookdoubtful stayers, Kingsgate Native is inconsistent, Marchand D’or ran a shocker
last time and US-based Kinsale King has had a long, hard season. There have been five winning three-year-olds in the past 13
years and the classic generation are representedn by Society Rock and SHOWCASING
(e/w) this time. The former ran a stormer to finish second in the Golden Jubilee, but it may just be that he is better suited to
Ascot. John Gosden’s Showcasing is a highly promising sprinter, but was immensely disappointing in the same race. However, I’m always willing to forgive a horse a bad run at the Berkshire track and with first time blinkers he looks overpriced at 20/1 with William Hill.
Andrew Balding has already been inNewmarket’s winner’s enclosure this week and I expect him to be there again
after today’s opener (1.30pm). He won this race last year and has a great chance of taking it again with HIGHLAND KNIGHT, who won his maiden impressively at Lingfield last time. The fillies’ maiden at 3.45pm can go to Godolphin with their highly regarded RAGSAH. She was backed as if defeat was out of the question on debut here last month, but will have
learnt a lot from finishing second to Sweet Cecily.
The 32Red Trophy (2.35pm), known as the Bunbury Cup to you and I, looks as difficult as ever and Jeremy Noseda runs
Captain Brilliance, who was narrowly denied by top weight Plum Pudding last year. PALACE MOON tops the ratings this time and on his third to Laddies Poker Two in the Wokingham, he must have a massive chance. Kieren Fallon is in the saddle
and his draw in stall five looks good. Tomorrow’s highlight is the John Smith’s Cup at York (3.05pm) and I’ve narrowed
the field down to two: Imposing and WIGMORE HALL. Ryan Moore arguably gave the former too much to do at Royal Ascot last time, but he was might ily impressive at this track the time before. However, Michael Bell’s Wigmore Hall ran really well at the Royal meeting as well and he seems to come into his own in these big-field races. He has to carry just 8st 5lbs and with Martin Lane taking off another valuable 3lbs, he looks a cracking each-way bet at 6/1.
Finally, Racing for Change and Chester Racecourse have combined for tonight’s Breast Cancer Care Pink Mile (6.10pm). It’s
the world’s first ever pink horserace with female horses and jockeys, all of whom will be wearing specially designed pink silks. The race is free-to-air on Racing UK and the channel is also donating £5 of every subscription made today to the charity.
Finding the winner doesn’t look easy, but I’ll be having a small each-way bet on MANY WELCOMES who has won over
course and distance.-
POINTERS…
HIGHLAND KNIGHT 1.30pm Newmarket (today)
PALACE MOON e/w 2.35pm Newmarket (today)
FLEETING SPIRIT 3.10pm Newmarket (today)
SHOWCASING e/w 3.10pm Newmarket (today)
RAGSAH 3.45pm Newmarket (today)
MANY WELCOMES e/w 6.10pm Chester (today)
WIGMORE HALL e/w 3.05pm York (tomorrow)