Login
WATCH FREE
2026 July Cup: runner-by-runner guide and tip
By Alex Scott
Last Updated: Thu 9 Jul 2026
Our man in Newmarket, Alex Scott, previews sprint racing's blue riband contest at Newmarket on Saturday and shares his prediction for the Al Basti Equiworld-sponsored Group One.
1 ALMERAQ
T: William Haggas. J: Tom Marquand. OR: 119. Best odds: 4-1.
The progressive son of Dark Angel was two from four and looked like a horse to follow before he was lucky to survive a horror fall at York in September.
Thankfully, he came away from that incident unscathed and is two from two since, following up his Salisbury Listed win on his reappearance with a 25-1 victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, beating the re-opposing Satono Reve by a nose, plus Joliestar by a short-neck.
There looked to be no fluke about that latest win and he is still yet to finish out of the first two. With potentially more to come having has just seven starts, he rates a leading player.
2 BIG MOJO
T: Michael Appleby. J: William Buick. OR: 115. Best odds: 10-1.
Big Mojo was second in the race last year. Can he go one better?
A neck runner-up in this race last year, this looks a stronger renewal and he will need to improve on what he has shown in two starts this year.
His seventh in the Minster Stakes was followed up by an improved performance in the King Charles III Stakes, beaten two and a quarter lengths by Mission Central, but more will be needed.
He did, however, land the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock last September, so is clearly capable of putting in a big run on his day and cannot totally be discounted, particularly back at a track he performed so well over 12 months ago.
3 COMMANCHE BRAVE
T: Donnacha O’Brien. J: Billy Loughnane. OR: 113. Best odds: 20-1.
A relatively experienced four-year-old who has ran in five countries, his two-length win over Big Gossey in the Greenlands Stakes was a career best.
However, he took a slight step backwards against stronger opposition in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, finishing seventh, two and three-quarter lengths behind winner Almeraq.
A strong stayer over this trip, he has previously been placed at Stakes level over a mile and has won over seven furlongs, but it remains to be seen if he is good enough to strike at the top level over this distance.
4 DOUBLE RUSH
T: Andrew Balding. J: Oisin Murphy. OR: 11. Best odds: 11-1.
Ace Stud’s hugely progressive son of Blue Point has won all three of his starts this year and is fully deserving of a spot in this field despite never having previously contested a Group or Listed race.
He made a mockery of his mark of 90 when winning a handicap at the Craven meeting by just shy of five lengths and again won easily at the Guineas meeting when 8lb well-in.
Things were tougher last time at Ascot in the Wokingham off another 10lb higher, but he still prevailed by a head. Yet to run on the July Course, he is three from three on the Rowley Mile. It is difficult to know where the ceiling to his ability is.
5 PRINCE OF INDIA
T: Marco Botti. J: Pat Dobbs. OR: 102. Best odds: 80-1.
Recorded a taking course and distance win at this meeting last year in the bet365 heritage handicap off 87, where he flew home from the rear of the 17-runner field to win by over three lengths.
He followed that up with a win at Ascot off an 11lb higher mark, but has failed to score since at Stakes level, though he finished a neck second in his one start back in handicap company in April.
Last seen finishing fourth to Almeraq at Salisbury in May, he would rate a surprise winner.
6 QUINAULT
T: Stuart Williams. J: Marco Ghiani. OR: 109. Best odds: 50-1.
The pace angle in the race, speedball Quinault is two from two on the July Course, both over six furlongs including at this meeting, but this looks a much tougher test.
His disappointing run at York last time can be attributed to his poor start, which did not allow him to adopt his favoured prominent position.
He has not been a regular in Group One sprints, though the best of his four attempts came on his most recent try at the top level when third in the British Champions Sprint in October.
His best piece of form this year was his third in the Abernant, at more will be needed here for all he clearly handles the undulations at this track very well.
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBetT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + Get 5 Free Bet when you Bet 20 on Multis Today with BOYLE SportsT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBetT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets with MidniteT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
7 SATONO REVE
T: Noriyuki Hori. J: Christophe-Patrice Lemaire. OR: 119. Best odds: 9-2.
The oldest horse in the race, seven-year-old Satono Reve went so close for Japan at Royal Ascot last year when favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee and has chased home Ka Ying Rising on more than one occasion, which is undoubtedly the best piece of form in this line up.
A comfortable winner of a domestic Group One at Chukyo in March, he was a nose second to Almeraq last time, again finding one too strong at the Royal meeting.
That was another top effort, however, and although there were no obvious excuses, it probably paid to be ridden a bit more patiently and it is more difficult to make up late ground at Newmarket than Ascot. He holds another strong chance.
8 COPPULL
T: Clive Cox. J: Saffie Osborne. OR: 110. Best odds: 28-1.
Another pace angle, he was only eighth in the Commonwealth Cup last time but was not helped by racing on the far side for the early part of the race and is probably better judged on his Group Three win at the same track in May.
Winner of the Richmond and third in the Middle Park last year, he should give another solid account of himself from the front, but it would be a surprise if he were quite good enough to win against the strongest field he has yet faced.
9 DIVISION
T: William Haggas. J: James Doyle. OR: 113. Best odds: 15-2.
Division (red cap) chases home Venetian Sun in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
The second of William Haggas’s two-pronged attack on this year’s July Cup, the three-year-old son of Kingman is drawn nearest the stands in stall one and was last seen finishing third in the Commonwealth Cup, three quarters of a length behind winner Venetian Sun.
He chased home that sane rival in the Sandy Lane and was a shade unlucky when only third behind Coppull on his run prior to that.
He is yet to win a Group race but is clearly capable of doing so and is getting closer to Venetian Sun. The nagging concern is his tendency to start slowly on this speed favouring track.
10 MISSION CENTRAL
T: Aidan O’Brien. J: Ryan Moore. OR: 115. Best odds: 5-1.
Impressed when winning the King Charles III Stakes at 14-1. Though runner-up Rayevka had to sit and wait for a gap at a crucial stage, Mission Central did well to win from an unpromising position and appeared to have it all to do a furlong out.
He is another improver in this race having won his past three starts and, although they have been over the minimum trip, he proved his stamina for this when scoring over six furlongs at Ascot in October.
More improvement may be needed, but he is going the right way and possesses a fine turn of foot.
11 VENETIAN SUN
T: Karl Burke. J: Clifford Lee. OR: 115. Best odds: 11-4.
Watch Venetian Sun's emphatic win at Haydock in May.
Outstanding filly won four of her five starts last year, including here over course and distance when scoring in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and in the Prix Morny from Gstaad.
Her only blemish came when a shade unlucky in the Moyglare and she failed to stay on her reappearance in the 1000 Guineas. She is since two from two and was always doing enough in front to land the Commonwealth Cup last month.
The daughter of Starman holds leading claims for this race, but the nagging concern is that her trainer reported this week that she had been showing signs of being in season. If she brings her A-game, she will surely be thereabouts.
Verdict
Having tipped VENETIAN SUN for this ante-post after her win at Royal Ascot, I see no reason to desert her and she could be the new sprinting star that this division is crying out for. She has course and distance form, and will stay this six furlongs stronger than most. Satono Reve has several pieces of outstanding form in the book and looks the most solid alternative, ahead of the progressive Double Rush.
1 VENETIAN SUN. 2 SATONO REVE. 3 DOUBLE RUSH.
Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.
Related posts
July Festival: Five horses to follow on Day One at Newmarket
Thursday tips: Dave Nevison's four best bets across three meetings
Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips: Kempton and Catterick selections
Free Racing TV tips for Thursday
Juvenile Watch: horse to follow and July Festival tip
Featured offers
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + Get 5 Free Bet when you Bet 20 on Multis Today with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved