July Cup Stakes Guide

1. Brando

T - Kevin Ryan

J - Tom Eaves

Back to winning ways last time out at Hamilton in a Conditions contest, beating old foes Donjuan Triumphant and Sands Of Mali.

Ran with credit here on seasonal return, and has placed third and second in the last two runnings of this race on this sort of surface.

Surely has the same chances of reaching the podium once more.

2. Cape Byron

T - Roger Varian

J - Andrea Atzeni

First appearance at Class One level but clearly a group performer emerging from the handicaps, after blitzing clear at Ascot last time out in the Wokingham Stakes.

Won the Victoria Cup earlier in the campaign at the same venue, and now tries his hand in the Group One July Cup on his first appearance at Newmarket.

More to come perhaps.

3. Dream Of Dreams

T - Sir Michael Stoute

J - Daniel Tudhope

Owned by Saeed Suhail, Dream Of Dreams has improved drastically in 2019, and produced a career best when finishing a neck-second to Blue Point in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

The five-year-old made up a tremendous amount of ground that day operating similar tactics as usual, and came within inches of landing a hat-trick of victories.

He won on his two starts beforehand at Chelmsford and Windsor, but does have previous form to correct at this course.

Should be a lively player now though as he has reached his full potential - big player from stall number one.

4. Glorious Journey

T - Charlie Appleby

J - James Doyle

Course and distance winner from his debut back in June 2017, and went close to a fourth career victory here behind Limato in the Criterion Stakes.

Form to reverse there, along with his runners-up positions at Windsor behind Dream Of Dreams in May.

Best season to date but just a bit more required here.

5. Lim's Cruiser

T - Stephen Gray

J - John Egan

International raider who is a multiple winning sprinter in Singapore and ran with much credit when eighth in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

Only won once in the last twelve months, and surely looks best suited to returning home after this.

Still a great day out for connections, and should give a good account of himself at large odds.

6. Limato

T - Henry Candy

J - Harry Bentley

Top class sprinter who has been messed about by his connections when challenging a mile - of which he clearly hates.

Back to seven furlongs here last time and just clung on in the Criterion Stakes from Glorious Journey, and will definitely suit the drop back to six.

Multiple winner over that distance, including in this race back in 2016.

Also second in 2017, he should make a bold bid from a low draw.

7. Major Jumbo

T - Kevin Ryan

J - Kevin Stott

Improved rapidly in 2018 to become a regular Class One perfomer this term.

The five-year-old has placed in Group Two's and Three's this season, and is yet to prevail in four starts since he ended last season with a victory at his beloved York.

First start in a Group One, and might struggle with this company.

8. Advertise

T - Martyn Meade

J - Frankie Dettori

First of the three-year-olds, Advertise bounced back to form with a top display in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

After flopping in the Guineas, the return to six furlongs along with the first time blinkers lit up the son of Showcasing, who also won a Group One as a juvenile over that distance in the Phoenix Stakes.

Connections did not want to go here, until the retirement of Blue Point.

9. Ten Sovereigns

T - Aidan O'Brien

J - Ryan Moore

Similar profile to Advertise - winning a Group One over six furlongs as a juvenile, however this three-year-old remained unbeaten last year in three starts.

He lost his perfect record in the Guineas when failing to stay a mile, and was sent off an even-money favourite in the Commonwealth Cup when returning to six.

The son of No Nay Never was left one-paced after a poor passage, and will need to get back to his best here.

10. Fairyland

T - Aidan O'Brien

J - Seamie Heffernan

Drop back to five furlongs for the first time in her career at Ascot, when finishing a useful fifth in the King's Stand Stakes.

Goes back up to six furlongs - a distance she won over four times last year, including the Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes here in September.

Has a big part to play here for a top stable.

11. Pretty Pollyanna

T - Michael Bell

J - Oisin Murphy

Course and distance winner from this card last year - winning the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on the Friday.

A seven-length winner can easily be deceptive, given that La Pelosa and Main Edition were both hampered and bumped around in running.

Winning at Deauville next time out, she has failed to continue the trend in four starts - two this year, and seeks a bit of a rejuvenation on her return to six furlongs after two one-mile runs.

12. So Perfect

T - Aidan O'Brien

J - Wayne Lordan

Another player for team Ballydoyle, a filly who finished a tailed off ninth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Did win a nice Group Three at Naas the start before in very taking-fashion so well worth another go, but may not get the rub of the green in this.

Finished third to stablemate Fairyland here in the Cheveley Park last term, but could be seen on the premises if responding better.