2023 Pertemps Network July Cup: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Who wins this year's Pertemps Network July Cup at Newmarket? At the time of writing, the ground is good to firm, although with rain forecast, there is a good chance the going will ease ahead of the Group One showpiece on Saturday.

A few of the contenders ideally need cut in the ground, while others will need the rain to stay away and the ground to remain as it is to be seen to best effect.

Shaquille heads the ante-post betting at a best-priced 15-8, and Azure Blue is now a general 3-1 chance following Little Big Bear's drift in the market after an injury scare.

However, the Commonwealth Cup runner-up does get another chance to take on his Royal Ascot conqueror as he features in a final field of nine.

Here is a guide to all the contenders for the feature on day three of the Boodles July Festival, live on Racing TV.

Trainer: Tim Easterby. Best odds: 33-1.

Appeared to be regressing towards the end of last year having suffered defeats at a lower level and was gelded ahead of this season, but proved he still has bundles of ability when storming to victory in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh two starts ago, a performance which suggested he could still be competitive at this level.

That said, although he has run well in Group One contests on numerous occasions, his record at the highest level reads 6443454880, and he's proved to be an inconsistent performer over the past 12 months.

Ran well in this race two years ago behind Starman after setting a fierce gallop from an unfavourable draw, and a case can be made for him on his best form, although his latest effort at Royal Ascot was discouraging, and others hold stronger claims.

Trainer: Kevin Ryan. Best odds: 33-1.

Produced a career best to win the 2021 Sprint Cup and has been placed in three Group Ones since then, including when a narrow second in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November.

Returned to action with a below-par performance at York this season and, after undergoing wind surgery again, shaped slightly better than the result suggests in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last time out having raced keenly.

Will need to take a big step forward from that effort to be competitive here, although it is worth noting that he tends to show his best form from August onwards, so it would be no surprise if he starts to hit form again soon.

Fast ground is also essential for this speedster, so connections will be hoping conditions remain as they are, and he's definitely got the ability to be competitive if bouncing back to his best. That's the big question mark, though.

Trainer: Charlie Hills. Best odds: 11-1.

Caused a huge upset winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at odds of 80-1 when last seen, which was a big step forward from his previous outings over the past 12 months.

That is one of the strongest pieces of recent form on offer, but will he repeat that performance here? He isn't the most consistent, and also has a quirk or two (he unshipped Jamie Spencer before the start at Royal Ascot), although is clearly in fine fettle having also gone close on his seasonal debut, albeit in a Listed race.

The fact he has been supplemented for £36,000 hints that he is pleasing connections at home, and maybe they have found the key to him again?

Charlie Hills' seven-year-old will need luck in running to score again here, and I probably wouldn't want to back him at any shorter than 10-1, given he comes with risks attached. He's one for the shortlist, though.

Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Best odds: 6-1.

High-class performer who recorded a hat-trick of Group One wins last season, including when dropping back to this trip to win the QIPCO British Champions Sprint in fine style.

He was also a shade unlucky when a never-nearer third in the Breeders' Cup Mile on his final start last year and returned with a respectable effort behind Khaadem at Royal Ascot, which was being used as a stepping stone to this contest.

Ralph Beckett's charge travelled well before tiring late on there, and undoubtedly needed the outing, with connections aiming to prime him for this race in a bid to provide Frankie Dettori with his first July Cup victory (until he received a ban, anyway!).

The biggest factor to Kinross' chances will be the ground as he's best suited by some cut, and I expect he'll go off shorter than 6-1, if the rain arrives.

He's the highest rated contender in the field, and with the cobwebs now blown away, he looks sure to go close provided conditions are not too quick. William Buick is a positive jockey booking, too.

Trainer: Henry Candy. Best odds: 25-1.

A talented sprinter on his day and found only Kinross too good in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint last year on his second outing at the highest level having progressed from handicap company.

He also defeated Khaadem at Salisbury in May before finishing behind that rival at Royal Ascot when last seen where he started slowly, and this five-year-old does tend to miss the break, which is a negative.

Won his sole start at this track and and handles cut in the ground, but is likely to need a couple to underperform to be competitive.

Trainer: Michael Dods. Best odds: 3-1.

A thriving sprinter who produced a career-best effort to defeat Highfield Princess, and a couple of her likely rivals here, in the Duke Of York last time out.

That form has been franked numerous times since, and Azure Blue was well on top at the finish having come from off the pace, so you could argue she was value for more than the winning margin.

One slight concern is that the runner-up would have needed the outing, and a few of her other rivals ran below-par, but the time was decent, and it's unlikely she has finished progressing yet.

Her record at Newmarket is also notable as she's won over this course and distance plus has scored three times on the Rowley Mile, while any rain that arrives will also aid her chances as connections have advised their rapidly-improving filly would not want the ground too firm. Another for the shortlist.

Trainer: Charlie Fellowes. Best odds: 33-1.

Has run eight times already this year and gained her second Group Three victory when scoring at Newmarket in May.

That is probably her level, though, as she has now failed to land a blow five times in Group One company after finishing down the field in the King's Stand Stakes last time out.

Ideally needs some cut in the ground to show her best, and even that probably won't be good enough to score here.

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Best odds: 6-1.

Aidan O'Brien reported on Monday that his classy three-year-old was only "50-50" to run at Newmarket on Saturday, but the Ballydoyle maestro has decided to let last year's champion juvenile take his chance.

He will need to step forward to defeat Shaquille following his effort behind Julie Camacho's stable star in the Commonwealth Cup last time out, especially as that rival was value for more than the winning margin suggests.

There were no obvious excuses for Little Big Bear's defeat there, either, and the son of No Nay Never hasn't performed to a rating of 124 (which he achieved as a juvenile) so far this year. His recent setback is also a worry, but he will have a big chance if bouncing back to his very best.

Trainer: Julie Camacho. Best odds: 15-8.

Has rapidly improved up the ranks on his past three starts having won a handicap off a rating of 94 in May and was last seen winning the Commonwealth Cup after scoring at Listed level on his previous outing.

Overcame a tardy start to score at Royal Ascot, and while that probably wasn't the strongest renewal of the Group One contest (a few of the leading players ran below-par, and the runner-up wasn't near his best) Shaquille's effort can be upgraded based upon how much ground he lost at the start.

Julie Camacho's superstar has now won six of his seven outings and it is highly likely he has more to offer yet, so is the one to beat, especially as this test promises to suit.

It is hard to know, at this stage, what the ground conditions will be like at Newmarket on Saturday, with a mixed forecast for the next 48 hours.

The improving Shaquille is the one to beat on his latest effort but, if the going does ease, then it is worth taking him on with KINROSS who should be primed for this race following his effort at Royal Ascot, and has some of the best form on offer.