The racing world heads to Newmarket this weekend as excitement builds ahead of Saturday’s Darley July Cup. The event was first established in 1876 and has become part of the Global Sprint Challenge in recent years to cement itself as one of the most important races on the British horse racing calendar.
Saturday’s event promises to be thrilling contest with Royal Ascot hero, Blue Point, heading into the race as the favourite at odds of 10/3 (Coral). Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old horse beat the much fancied, Bataash in the King’s Stand last time out at Royal Ascot and there has been plenty of buzz around it heading to Newmarket. It will be interesting to see how he gets on here though as the course will not suit him as well as it did at Royal Ascot and he could well come under some heavy challenge.
One of the biggest challengers he may face is Aiden O’Brien’s US Navy Flag who has struggled a little at the longer distances recently and may well enjoy a return to sprinting at Newmarket. US Navy Flag is the second favourite heading into the race and is available at 5/1 (Coral). Another who is expected to do well in this race is Eqtidaar, who won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and is available at 11/2 (Coral). Eqtidaar looked in good shape in the paddock at Newmarket and he is definitely well worth a look in my opinion as he could spring an upset and beat Blue Point on Saturday.
Behind them come Sands of Mali, who was beaten by Eqtidaar at Royal Ascot and Dreamfield who is being backed by many as the outsider with the biggest chance of causing an upset in this race. Dreamfield lost his unbeaten record at Royal Ascot, but he’s got bags of talent and he will come into this race with a point to prove and the speed to back it up. Josh Gosden and his team have done a great job with this young horse and at odds of 9/1 he could definitely be worth putting some money on heading into the race on Saturday.
Overall, looking at the main runners and riders in this race, I’m going to steer clear of favourite, Blue Point, and instead back Eqtidaar and Dreamfield to do something special in the Darley July Cup.
Dreamfield – 9/1 (Coral)