Despite the slightly depressing news that the clerk of the course has got out his watering can again, a fast surface seems assured for the July Cup, which is as it should be. Few sights are more thrilling than top-class sprinters on good to firm ground and backers of Magical Memory (4.35)may get the biggest thrill of all.
A big-field handicap winner at this meeting last year, he started his season with two Group successes but was beaten half a length last time in the Diamond Jubilee. Considering both the good to soft going and the fact that he was held up off a modest pace, he did remarkably well to get as close as he did.
2.45 Ascot A third in Ireland last time suggests Desert Law is peaking in midsummer once more. He was only beaten a length in this race last year.
3.00 York Never nearer than at the finish at Chelmsford last time, Firmament can continue his improvement for David O’Meara now that he returns to turf.
3.15 Ascot Toormore has been successful the last three times he was dropped to Group Two company and this looks another good opportunity.
3.25 Newmarket There should be more to come from Hornsby, who edged home by a neck on his handicap debut a fortnight ago, his first outing for almost a year. He remains well treated.
3.40 York Another who should be sharper for a first run back is Quest For More, who travelled like the best horse when second here in May. Curbyourenthusiasm is feared.
4.00 Newmarket Green on his debut and strongest at the finish in a hotter race last time, Cunco could take another step forward here. A faster surface than at Ascot should help.
4.15 York Tawdeea doesn’t have to have soft ground but he probably needs more of a test than this is going to provide, dropping back to 10 furlongs on a surface that should be no worse than good. Carry On Deryck makes more appeal, especially since his Meydan win in February has worked out so well, the winners of the Lincoln and the Victoria Cup chasing him home. He can be forgiven his soft-ground defeat at Ascot.
4.50 York Having run a bit flat on his first race since returning from Dubai, Muthmir may show his true colours here, at a course where he was successful a couple of summers ago. He has been a bit frustrating but there have been some fair excuses.
5.10 Newmarket Buckstay is the most obvious one but his hold-up style practically begs for trouble and there is no margin for error on his current rating. Mutawathea is, at 14-1, more than twice the price despite having pipped him when second in the Victoria Cup. Improved since joining Simon Crisford, he may be able to confirm that form on 6lb worse terms.
