It remains all systems go for the rematch between Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) after both horses featured among 13 confirmations for Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket.
Inisherin was an emphatic winner when the pair met in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May and Kevin Ryan's colt followed that effort with another top-class performance when also winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time. He is a general 7-4 favourite to confirm himself the outstanding sprinter in training when he bids for the hat-trick at Newmarket.
Vandeek, on the other hand, has been off the track since finishing third as the odds-on favourite for the Sandy Lane, having been forced to miss the Commonwealth Cup due to an abnormal blood count. Unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, notably winning the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes, Vandeek was conceding race fitness to Inisherin at Haydock and his connections will be hoping that he can close the gap with that first run of the season under his belt.
Commonwealth Cup third Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) is another talented three-year-old to have stood his ground, along with River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who finished third behind Vandeek in both the Prix Morny and Middle Park at two. He needs to bounce back from a below-par effort in the G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, while stable-mate Military (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) also failed to figure at that meeting when beating only one home in the Commonwealth Cup.
The prolific Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who finished third in last year's July Cup, looks the pick of the older horses after his runner-up finish in the G3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. That was his first start since last October after he'd been ruled out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot due to unsuitable ground.
The Ascot form is set to be represented by the first three from that race, Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), plus Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) and Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), who finished fifth and seventh, respectively.
The list of possible runners is completed by a pair of Group 1 winners from last year, namely Haydock Sprint Cup hero Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and Champions Sprint Stakes scorer Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The latter finished fourth in the July Cup in both 2021 and 2023, while Regional was last seen faring best of the home team behind Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) in the G1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
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