No love for the July Cup?

[my miss storm cat]

Do I have to do everything around here?

Brock? No Chance? AJ? Anyone have a pick?

I'm a huge fan of too many here but man... sentiment aside?

I'll take Marchand D'or.

(Crazy odds on both Equino and Showcasing).

Friday July 9 2010
Newmarket 15:10

Darley July Cup (group 1) (british Leg Of The Global Sprint Challenge)
£400000.00 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1, £227080.00 penalty
14 runners
Going: Good to Firm
Surface: Turf


No. Form Horse Age Wt Trainer Jockey OR NagMe Naps Bet
1 (5) 22175-7 Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 20 7 9-5 C G Cox P Robinson 115 SP SP
50/1
2 (10) 50-1121 Equiano (FR) 24 5 9-5 B W Hills M Hills 117 1 SP SP
14/1
3 (2) 3/016-16 Kingsgate Native (IRE) 24 5 9-5 Sir Michael Stoute R L Moore 116 1 SP SP
14/1
4 (13) 911-113 Kinsale King (USA) 20 5 9-5 bt Carl O'Callaghan K Fallon SP SP
9/1
5 (7) 048-130 Marchand D'or (FR) 20 7 9-5 M Delzangles D Bonilla 1 SP SP
16/1
6 (8) 39-1604 Nicconi (AUS) 24 5 9-5 v D A Hayes D M Oliver 1 SP SP
16/1
7 (9) 924119 Prime Defender 20 6 9-5 B W Hills R Winston 111 SP SP
40/1
8 (11) 1-41351 Starspangledbanner (AUS) 20 4 9-5 A P O'Brien J P Murtagh 5 SP SP
6/4
9 (3) 2421-48 Varenar (FR) 20 4 9-5 A de Royer-Dupre G Mosse SP SP
22/1
10 (14) 2-31210 Alverta (AUS) 20 7 9-2 b Paul Messara Tye Angland SP SP
50/1
11 (12) 21227-4 Fleeting Spirit (IRE) 20 5 9-2 J Noseda L Dettori 116 4 SP SP
4/1
12 (4) 1/718-20 Serious Attitude (IRE) 20 4 9-2 Rae Guest J Fortune 108 SP SP
50/1
13 (1) 2113-20 Showcasing 20 3 8-13 b1 J H M Gosden William Buick 114 SP SP
18/1
14 (6) 117-122 Society Rock (IRE) 20 3 8-13 J R Fanshawe P Cosgrave 115 1 SP SP
12/1
Last Winner Year Horse Trainer Jockey SP Age Wt Draw
2009 Fleeting Spirit (IRE) J Noseda T P Queally 12/1 4 9-2 9

Betting Forecast: 13/8 Starspangledbanner (AUS), 4/1 Fleeting Spirit (IRE), 8/1 Kinsale King (USA), 10/1 Society Rock (IRE), 12/1 Marchand D'or (FR), 14/1 Kingsgate Native (IRE), 14/1 Nicconi (AUS), 16/1 Equiano (FR), 16/1 Showcasing, 25/1 Balthazaar's Gift (IRE), 25/1 Prime Defender, 25/1 Varenar (FR), 33/1 Alverta (AUS), 33/1 Serious Attitude (IRE)Verdict
Always a highlight of the season and a fantastic race in prospect, with plenty of collateral form for us to consider, but the way STARSPANGLEDBANNER took the Golden Jubilee over this trip at Royal Ascot suggests that he is the one they all have to beat, while last year's victor Fleeting Spirit, along with Society Rock and Kingsgate Native are all hugely respected. The last-named remains relatively lightly-raced for a sprinter, and he himself was good enough to win the Golden Jubilee two years ago. Fast ground suits and he is adaptable from 5f to 6f, with Group 1 wins at both trips. He has beaten and been beaten by Equiano this term, but if at his best today he does just look a shade better than that opponent, who won the King's Stand at Royal Ascot and is arguably best over the minimum distance. Society Rock was behind our pick at that meeting and while there is no obvious reason why he should turn the tables, he certainly showed improved form that day and is going the right way. The international challenge is headed up by Kinsale King, who has two lengths to find with our selection on their Golden Jubilee running. He won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March and having experienced English conditions once he may be able to find a bit more this time. Varenar has bags of class but looked tapped for toe over this short at Ascot and preference is for Starspangledbanner. Aidan O'Brien's Choisir-colt showed that he handled quick ground really well last time when he was impressive. He really looks to have found his feet at this level now and will take some stopping in his bid to follow-up.


FORMWATCH
Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 66-1 (9-4) Raced stands side, held up in rear, headway on outside of group over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 7th of 24, 4l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Equiano (FR) 9-2 (9-4) Stumbled start, raced stand side, made most, ridden over 1f out, edged right and ran on final furlong, won at Royal Ascot 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun beating Markab (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.Kingsgate Native (IRE) 5-2fav (9-4) Raced center, in touch, ridden and merged with stand side 2f out, one pace when bumped over 1f out, 6th of 12, 4l behind Equiano (9-4) at Royal Ascot 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.Kinsale King (USA) 8-1 (9-4) Raced stands side, prominent, chased winner 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, lost 2nd last strides, 3rd of 24, 2l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Marchand D'or (FR) 11-1 (9-4) Raced stands side, held up on rail, headway and switched right over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not able to reach leaders, 11th of 24, 4 1/2l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Nicconi (AUS) 10-3 (9-4) Dwelt raced stand side, in rear, headway and switched left over 1f out, ran on near finish, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Equiano (9-4) at Royal Ascot 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.Prime Defender 33-1 (9-4) Raced far side, led group until narrowly headed halfway, stayed challenging, every chance that side from 2f out until weakened final 100 yards, 9th of 24, 4 1/2l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Starspangledbanner (AUS) 13-2fav (9-4) Raced stands side, made all on rail, ridden and edged right over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, won at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun beating Society Rock (8-11) by 1 3/4l, 24 ran.Varenar (FR) 25-1 (9-4) Raced far side, dwelt, soon chased leaders, led group 2f out until 1f out, stayed on same pace towards finish, 8th of 24, 4l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Alverta (AUS) 40-1 (9-1) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden and every chance that side 2f out, weakened just over 1f out, 14th of 24, 7l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Fleeting Spirit (IRE) 13-2fav (9-1) Raced far side, held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead that group just over 1f out, ran on well, not quite on terms with leaders stands side, 4th of 24, 2 1/2l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Serious Attitude (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Raced far side, held up last, headway on outside of group over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace of leaders stands side, 10th of 24, 4 1/2l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Showcasing 8-1 (8-11) Raced stands side, dwelt, held up towards rear, hanging right when slightly hampered 2f out, never a factor, eased when no chance final furlong, last of 24, 29l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.Society Rock (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Raced stands side, held up in rear, not clear run travelling well when switched sharply right and hampered rivals 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 24, 1 3/4l behind Starspangledbanner (9-4) at Royal Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.