15:35 Newmarket – Conditions right for Delegator
Published:The fact that the rain has stayed away means that Delegator is the one to beat in the Darley July Cup, although there are a handful who possess solid credentials in what looks like a massively wide open race.
Delegator is 4/1 in the Newmarket odds to win the Group One showdown and was victorious on his only start over today’s 6f trip back in May when winning the Duke Of York Blue Square Stakes.
The ground conditions at Newmarket look to be absolutely ideal, but if Delegator is to win a Group One for a first time he will have to upset some key statistics.
Firstly, all of the last 11 winners had run inside 30 days of heading to Newmarket, while ten of the last 11 had lined up at Royal Ascot.
Delegator was listed to run in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, but was pulled out by Saeed Bin Suroor because of the soft ground.
Eight of today’s runners did contest that race, with Monsieur Chavalier finishing second.
He is 10/1 to win the July Cup, but may have exceeded himself at Royal Ascot from the optimum draw.
Looking down the final standings, Elzaam was eye catching staying on late in fourth and Amico Fritz ran well from a nightmare draw down the wrong side of the course to take sixth and both appeal in the July Cup at 7/1 and 20/1 respectively.
Other potential each-way contenders are Dream Ahead at 9/1, who has won all three of his starts over 6f and 18/1 chance Oracle, who may benefit from the drop in trip from 1m after finishing third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
