G1 July Cup

After Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) had crossed the line in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, all logic pointed to Newmarket and Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup. Imperious there, as he had been in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes the previous month, Kevin Ryan's latest sprinting luminary is unbeaten over this six-furlong trip and open to abundant improvement from a family which breeds class acts at a ridiculous rate. Whatever his obvious merits, the fact is that with the ground drying out by the hour...

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...

Billy Loughnane is set to be in Group 1 action at Newmarket this weekend when he bids for the first top-level success of his burgeoning career in the My Pension Expert July Cup. Loughnane was among the winners on Saturday's Coral-Eclipse card at Sandown, notably landing the Coral Challenge aboard Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) for Charlie Hills, who is set to reward the young rider with the mount on one of his two potential July Cup runners, the Jim and Fitri Hay-owned pair of Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})...

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...

Twenty-one colts remain in contention for the G1 Betfred Derby following the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1. Aidan O'Brien, who saddled a record-extending ninth winner of the Derby when Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was successful in 2023, could be mob-handed this year with up to seven runners. His entries include the outstanding two-year-old of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), who will be trying to emulate Auguste Rodin by bouncing back from a disappointing return to action in...

The Jockey Club and 1/ST Racing have partnered to increase international participation in several of their respective turf races, the two companies announced on Thursday. The aim of the partnership is to create links between historic races in the UK and high-profile U.S. turf races over two different distances. The winner of the May 4 $200,000 GII Charles Whittingham S. at Santa Anita will gain an automatic berth and travel incentive to run in the £750,000 G1 Coral-Eclipse over the same 10-furlong distance at Sandown Park on July 6. Whichever...

There have been many super-sprinters that have won Newmarket's G1 July Cup, but probably none that have managed to do as much wrong as Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}-Magic {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) as he placed himself among the very best in Saturday's renewal. Up in the air as the stalls opened and slowly away again as he had been in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, Julie Camacho and Steve Brown's freakishly-talented 3-year-old was quickly telling Rossa Ryan that he wanted to assume top dog status. Lesser mortals would have...

First there was Dettori's ban, meaning that the one missing English group 1 on his palmares was going to stay void. Then the setback to Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Now, the persistent rain that dogged Friday's action at Newmarket's July Festival and has changed the complexion of Saturday's feature G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Ironically, every bit of that unexpected wet spell acted further to aid the cause of Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who would have been Frankie's final ride in his last-chance saloon which is now...

There have been few more wide-open editions of Newmarket's G1 Darley July Cup than takes place on Saturday, with no stand-out among the 14 and nothing too far over its head that a surprise can be safely ruled out. There is an Australian runner, but Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) was too much in the scrum in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. to suggest he has an edge over the British and Irish. There are seven re-opposing from that Royal Ascot feature, with the worst-placed Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) under...

Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), the G1 Commonwealth Cup second, has been supplemented to the G1 Darley July Cup by trainer Hugo Palmer. A listed winner last October, the 3-year-old colt ran sixth in the G3 Greenham S. in April, but returned to form with a 1 1/2-length victory in the May 6 conditions stakes at Chester. Back in action at Haydock later that month, Flaming Rib missed by only a neck when second in the G2 Sandy Lane S., his final start prior to his good run at Royal...

Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), winner of the Wokingham S. at Royal Ascot June 19, will be supplemented to the July 10 G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The 3-year-old was precluded from running in the G1 Commonwealth Cup during the Royal meeting since the event precludes geldings from competing. In the Wokingham, the Irish-bred closed from last to defeat 20 rivals. "He was unbelievable in the Wokingham with top-weight [9st 8lb], said trainer David Evans. "Rohaan is fine, he's very well.    The plan is to supplement for the July Cup,...

Group 1 winner Pastoral Pursuits (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}-Star {GB}, by Most Welcome {GB}) passed away after covering a mare at Norton Grove Stud on Tuesday. The 2005 G1 July Cup winner was 20. "It is with great sadness we have to say we lost Pastoral Pursuits yesterday," Christina Pople, daughter of Richard and Maggie Lingwood of Norton Grove Stud, announced via Twitter. "Sadly, he died after covering a mare due to a rupture in a major vessel in his chest, a symptom of his age. We are all deeply...