Friday 12 July 2019 11:30, UK
Dream Of Dreams can provide Sir Michael Stoute with his fourth victory in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
It is 38 years since the master of Freemason Lodge first landed the prestigious prize with Marwell. He went on to claim two more July Cup wins in the 1980s with Green Desert and Ajdal.
It has been quite a while since Stoute had a genuinely top-class sprinter on his hands, but Dream Of Dreams looks ready to bridge the gap judged on this season's efforts.
The son of Dream Ahead ran well in several quality races in 2018 without managing to get his head in front - and like so many horses before him, he appears a typical Stoute improver.
The five-year-old won with a bit up his sleeve on his first start of the new campaign at Chelmsford - and after he followed up in Listed company at Windsor, Stoute pitched his charge in at the deep end in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
That faith was justified as he pushed the remarkable Blue Point all the way, going down by just a head, and he probably would have come out on top in another few strides.
If Dream Of Dreams can replicate that run on the July Course three weeks later, it may well be enough to see him come home in front.
The main supporting race on the final afternoon of the July Festival is the bet365 Superlative Stakes, in which King's Command gets the vote.
Trainer Charlie Appleby has saddled two of the last three winners of this seven-furlong Group Two in Boynton (2016) and Quorto (2018), and in King's Command he appears to have unearthed another exciting prospect.
Interestingly, the Dubawi colt made his debut in the same novice event won by Quorto last season - and while not quite as impressive as his currently-sidelined stablemate, there was plenty to like about his attitude as he rallied to prevail by a neck.
The subsequent success of the fourth, Royal Commando, gives the form some credence - and while this does represent a significant jump in class, Appleby clearly feels King's Command is up to the job.
Crossing The Line catches the eye in the £120,000 bet365 Bunbury Cup.
Andrew Balding's filly was a winner on her only previous visit to the July Course, and a record of four victories from just seven starts on turf is more than respectable.
There was not a lot wrong with her runner-up finish behind last year's 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook in a Listed event at Chelmsford on her latest appearance, and she reverts to handicap company off a mark of 100 - only a couple of pounds higher than her last triumph in this sphere.
Accidental Agent is given the benefit of the doubt in the Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot.
Eve Johnson Houghton's stable star caused a huge upset when winning the Queen Anne at last year's Royal meeting, and made a highly encouraging start to his 2019 campaign when third in the Lockinge.
However, he refused to race when defending his Queen Anne crown last month - having never previously shown any signs of recalcitrance.
Such an act clearly leaves him with questions to answer, but it may have been just a blip - and if so he can get back on track this weekend.
A huge crowd will descend on York for John Smith's Cup da, and the feature event itself - the John Smith's Diamond Jubilee Cup - looks as difficult to solve as ever.
Royal Hunt Cup winner Afaak heads the weights, while Mountain Angel heads the betting, but preference is for Charlie Appleby's Setting Sail.
With just six runs under his belt, the son of Dansili is seriously unexposed - and it was hard not to be impressed with his recent win at Newmarket.
A 5lb hike does not look insurmountable.
SELECTIONS:
ASCOT: 1.45 Tis Marvellous, 2.15 Manigordo, 2.50 Be More, 3.25 Saroog, 4.00 Accidental Agent, 4.35 Faylaq, 5.10 Algaffaal.
CHESTER: 2.00 Dr Simpson, 2.35 Daffy Jane, 3.10 Beauty Filly, 3.45 Gabrial The One, 4.20 Miss Sheridan, 4.55 Friendly Advice, 5.30 City Wanderer.
HAMILTON: 5.30 Asmund, 6.05 Art Of Unity, 6.35 Tadaany, 7.05 Sioux Frontier, 7.35 Steel Helmet, 8.05 Move In Faster, 8.35 Be Bold, 9.05 Diviner.
LIMERICK: 2.45 Kerry Star, 3.20 Cloak Of Darkness, 3.55 Shake The Bucket, 4.30 Cool Colonnade, 5.05 From Eden, 5.40 Ellie Mac, 6.10 Rock Road.
NAVAN: 1.25 Jack Yeats, 1.55 Alligator Alley, 2.30 Rewrite, 3.05 Offline , 3.40 Sun Sign, 4.15 High Street Lady, 4.50 Arctic Blaze, 5.25 Navajo Ridge.
NEWMARKET: 1.50 Baaqy, 2.20 Honest Albert, 2.55 King's Command, 3.30 Crossing The Line, 4.05 Flarepath, 4.40 DREAM OF DREAMS (NAP), 5.15 Apparate.
NEWTON ABBOT: 2.25 Pingshou, 3.00 No Hidden Charges, 3.35 Sumkindofking, 4.10 Maebh, 4.45 Sizing Tara, 5.20 Golander, 5.55 Show's Over.
SALISBURY: 5.50 Great Ambassador, 6.20 Glory, 6.50 Ghalyoon, 7.20 Mondain, 7.50 Global Falcon, 8.20 Amber Spark, 8.50 Molotov.
YORK: 2.05 Final Venture, 2.40 Gold Mount, 3.15 Masham Star, 3.50 Setting Sail, 4.25 Makawee, 5.00 No Mercy, 5.35 Dragon Command.
DOUBLE: Dream Of Dreams and King's Command.
