Group One July Cup Stakes Guide 2022

Three duck-eggs from his last three runs. Emaraaty Ana won the G1 Sprint Cup last year, but he hasn’t really scaled those heights since.

This year his form has been pretty terrible, he looks as if he’s regressed. He clearly has ability, but it would take a leap of faith to back him.

Winner of a listed race last time out at Naas. This mare was a serial winner last year, and she took a G1 at the Curragh in September.

With a run under her belt she should strip fitter, and she’s done nothing wrong to date. Dangerous to write off.

Won the Abernant Stakes from Garrus and Jumby, then ran a moderate race at Royal Ascot behind a few of these. She’s a talented mare, but, whether she is a genuine G1 performer is up for debate.

She’ll need a career best to win.

Admirably consistent filly. She often runs well in these big field sprints but she usually finds one or two too good. She ran an absolute cracker in Meydan early this year, finishing 2nd in a G1 from A Case Of You.

Ascot was her next outing and it’s fair to think she may have needed the run. She will run her race and she should be A1 here.

Hugely progressive last year, winning at G1 level. He ran a cracking race at Royal Ascot in the Platinum Jubilee, finishing a neck second to Naval Crown, but Creative Force won his race (two split groups).

That form is a good indication here, and he has the beating of a few of these. He has to be feared.

Winner of the Platinum Jubilee last time out in good style, Naval Crown certainly still looks as if he’s on the up.

He’s really only recently been dropped to proper sprint trips, but this looks like his game. He won gamely last time out and he’s comparatively unexposed at this trip. Massive player.

Dropped back to 6f at Royal Ascot in the Platinum Jubilee, Alcohol Free ran well, and connections persist at sprint trips which is interesting.

She’s always had pace, but I’m not 100% certain that it suits entirely. She will need to improve from her last run to reverse the form with a few of these.

Steadily progressive through the handicap ranks so far, Blackrod has been running well, but this represents a huge jump in class.

He was last seen contesting the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he finished 7th. He will need to improve a good deal to get involved here, this is a proper G1.

Australian sprinter, who ran a huge third in the Platinum Jubilee last time out at Royal Ascot. He was quite unlucky in the run, and would have finished closer with a clear run.

His form is right up there with some of these and he’s likely to be a main player here. Has the beating of a few of these on form.

Ran a much improved race last time out when fourth to Perfect Power in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

He had looked out of sorts prior to that effort so it was certainly a step in the right direction. If he kicks on again, he will be a danger.

Likely to come up short nonetheless.

Second last time out to Perfect Power in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. That looks the key piece of form here, and he looked the winner a half furlong out.

This track should play to his strengths and he’s improving all the time. Serious player.

Last of 20 last time out in the Commonwealth Cup. That was bitterly disappointing as prior to that he’d looked a sprinter on the up when winning a G3 at Naas easily.

He will need to leave Ascot well behind him should he continue on his upward curve. Hard to recommend on the evidence of Ascot.

Winner of the Commonwealth Cup last time out in good style. He travelled with purpose and quickened like a good horse there, and he’s now a multiple G1 winner.

He had the measure of Flaming Rib towards the finish, and it’s hard to see that reversing. He is the horse to beat and he has leading form claims.

Japanese raider. His form is obviously hard to weigh up, but he’s without a win since last November. He has been campaigned over a mile in Japan, so this will be a different test entirely. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes.

Likely pace angle.