Who To Follow On Day One Of The July Cup Meeting At Newmarket

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Tue 05 Jul 2022 14.58

Newmarket (July) 15:10

6(4)

Mighty Ulysses

J: Frankie Dettori

T: John & Thady Gosden

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 9-5

OR: 113

Days: 23

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over a mile and one of our best bets of the day is Mighty Ulysees for John & Thady Gosden.

Mighty Ulysses looks the one to beat in this for the Gosden partnership being seen five times and looking more like a group horse every race he runs.

Making a very smart debut as a two year old over a mile he returned this season in the Listed Blue Riband Trial At Epsom and didn’t take to the extra two furlongs when only fifth.

He returned to form in a big way next time out at Newmarket over a mile landing a Novice Stakes by close to five lengths, looking a class act.

Given his handicap debut two starts ago at Haydock he was well punted and was an unlucky loser back in second, just going down by a better handicapped horse.

Sent to Royal Ascot, stepped up into the Group One St James's Palace Stakes he looked to have a big chance with a furlong to go, but could only manage a close up fifth in what was a five way photo finish.

The form of that race looks extremely strong and now back into Listed level, he could be tough to beat.

Form: 15125View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
07/07/22	NMK	8	GF	9-5	1
14/06/22	ASC	8	GF	9-2	5
21/05/22	HAY	8	Gd	9-4	2
13/05/22	NMK	8	Gd	9-4	1
19/04/22	EPS	10	Gd	9-1	5

John & Thady Gosden have been in the headlines of late with all the news about Frankie Dettori and their sabbatical but the team have two superb chances on the day and we fancy them both to win making them the handlers to follow.

In the Group Two Princess Of Wales's Stakes Stakes the yard field Mostahdaf who was a bright second in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes last time out and should go close here.

The teams best chance of the day comes in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over a mile and Mighty Ulysees dropping back in grade should not be beat.

The Gosden's head into the meeting sporting a superb strike rate of 39% for the last two weeks, having managed to land nine winners from their last 23 runners.

Leading rider Ryan Moore has been in the form of his life this term and on the first day of the July Cup meeting he has a handful of class rides.

In the opening race of the day he sits on the Sean Woods trained Candiansmokeshow who is a well bred daughter of US Navy Flag that could turn out to be smart.

He then goes into the Group Three Bahrain Stakes over 1m5f and holds every chance with Queen's Vase second Zechariah, who was one of the most unluckiest losers of Royal Ascot.

Moore sits on the favourite Little Big Bear in the Group Two July Stakes and holds big form claims, then in the bet365 Handicap over 6f he's on the second fav Deodar, who won't be far away.

Other nice chances for the rider include Living Legend in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes, The Acropolis in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes and Evocative Spark in the finale.