held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, headed near finish
raced centre until halfway, switched left to join main group, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong
slowly away, towards rear, never troubled leaders
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
raced mid-division, never troubled leaders
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not pace to challenge
slowly into stride, headway after 2f, short of room approaching final furlong, not recover
dwelt, soon recovered to track leader, ridden and led approaching final furlong, headed and no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not pace to challenge
chased leaders, weakened well over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway and not clear run from over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never able to challenge
slowly into stride, held up, headway and edged left over 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead near finish
held up towards rear, headway final furlong, never nearer
chased leaders, ridden and slightly out-paced halfway, edged left and every chance 1f out, kept on under pressure
raced centre until halfway, switched left and joined main group, chased leaders, led inside final furlong, soon headed, stayed on
held up, not clear run approaching final furlong, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and every chance 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
A tremendously competitive line-up for the July Cup and, with the going riding quick, we'll offer up a shortlist of Exceed And Excel, Patavellian, Cape Of Good Hope, Antonius Pius and Frizzante, with the selection being Frizzante. Looking at the field, we see Ashdown Express has three-and-a-half lengths to find on Exceed And Excel on Wokingham Stakes form, and Airwave, who was third in this race last year, just a half-length less. Others to have run in the Wokingham are the winner, Fayr Jag, Country Reel (who was fourth, three-parts of a length behind Exceed And Excel), Bahamian Pirate (eighth, beaten four-and-half lengths) and Steenberg, who was a head behind Bahamian Pirate, with Monsieur Bond further behind. The winner beat Exceed And Excel by two heads. Continent beat Bahamian Pirate by half-a-length in this race two years ago, but that was on good to soft going, but he has been trained with this race in mind and should be sharper for his recent Haydock run. Nayyir has won four times at Group level, but never at a distance shorter than seven furlongs, but Patavellian looks set to go well. He won last year's Prix de l'Abbaye on holding going but has won over course and distance and acts on good to firm. Somnus was over five lengths behind him in the l'Abbaye but won last season's Haydock Sprint Cup, but that was on soft going, a surface he seems best on, while Frizzante was an unlucky-in-running third in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was just a head behind Cape Of Good Hope. Bahamian Pirate, who was seventh on that occasion, has around two lengths to find on that form. Italian raider Porlezza has around two-and-a-half lengths to find with Patavellian on l'Abbaye form, but she has never won on going as fast as she will encounter at Newmarket. Balmont was a promoted winner of the Middle Park Stakes Stakes over course and distance last season but it would be a good effort to win at the first time of asking this time around, while Kheleyf was a ready winner of the Jersey Stakes and, while he can go well, he probably has a bit of improvement to find at this trip to score. Moss Vale also has a bit to find and the Japanese raider Seeking The Dia, has to be respected given that his homeland won this race in recent years. Finally, there is no doubt that Antonius Pius has strongly suggested that sprinting could be his forte following an unlucky French 2,000 Guineas defeat and a very good third in the St James's Palace Stakes last time. He too must be strongly considered but, overall, the vote goes to Frizzante.
