Royal Ascot winners Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) both feature prominently in the betting for the G1 My Pension Expert July Cup after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. A total of 23 horses remain in contention for the first big clash of the generations at the six-furlong trip, which will be run at Newmarket on Saturday, July 13 and offers total prize-money of £600,000.
Inisherin ran out a dominant winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, having been sent off a warm favourite following the defection of key rivals such as Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The July Cup promises to be a stiffer test of Inisherin's top-class credentials if that trio all make it to post at Newmarket, while Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who finished third in the Commonwealth Cup, could be in opposition once again.
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the owner of Inisherin and Elite Status, is also responsible for Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who would be a fascinating contender if taking up his July Cup entry, having proved himself an outstanding miler with back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes.
Ed Walker's rapidly progressive four-year-old English Oak will face a significant rise in grade if lining up at Newmarket, having defied a BHA mark of 99 with ease in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, while the first three from the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at that meeting–Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire})–could also feature in the July Cup, along with the G1 King Charles III Stakes runner-up Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}).
Goodwood Highlights Starting to Take Shape
The first entries for seven races at the Qatar Goodwood Festival were also revealed on Tuesday, with 31 fillies and mares being given the option of running in the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes on Thursday, August 1.
They include a pair of Classic winners in 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Prix de Diane scorer Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), plus Opera Singer (Justify), the standout two-year-old filly of 2023 and runner-up in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. They will be tested against their elders if lining up at Goodwood, with no more accomplished performer among the entries than the John and Thady Gosden-trained Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), already a six-time winner at the top level.
The feature race when the meeting kicks off on Tuesday, July 30 is the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup in which the Gosdens could saddle up to four runners, including their G1 Gold Cup second Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). However, it's Aidan O'Brien who holds the strongest hand numerically with 10 of the 22 entries, headed by Trawlerman's Royal Ascot conqueror, Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {GB}), who won the Goodwood Cup in 2022. Last year's G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) also features in the Ballydoyle contingent.
The G2 World Pool Lennox Stakes is another highlight on the opening day of the meeting and has attracted 40 contenders, while the other races at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for which the entries have been revealed include two major handicaps, with 111 in the Coral Stewards' Cup and 61 in the Coral Golden Mile. The weights will be published for both races on Wednesday, July 3.
A full list of entries for all seven races can be found here.
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