Darley July Cup at Newmarket Betting Preview

The Darley July Cup, run on Friday for the first time this year, takes centre stage this week on the final day of what promises to be a thrilling three days of action on the July Course at Newmarket. Aussie raider Takeover Target, winner of the King's Stand Stakes and third in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot, is clear favourite to land the spoils at a generally available 9/2, although he is as short as 4/1 in places. However, the seven-year-old will have to buck a trend if he is to prevail. Over the last decade no winner of either of the sprints at Royal Ascot has landed the July Cup in the same season. Sure, trends are there to be bucked, as rules are there to be broken, but in a race this competitive I feel that Takeover Target's price is way too skinny. Interestingly, five of the last ten winners of the July Cup were beaten in the five-furlong King's Stand en route to capturing this prestigious event. And of those beaten in this year's renewal of that Group 2 contest, La Cucaracha's effort was one of they most eyecatching, and she is well worth backing at 10/1 to gain handsome compensation on Friday. The Barry Hills-trained mare was having her first outing for nine months when lining up for the King's Stand but ran a blinder. Drawn on the 'wrong' side, she kept on well in the closing stages to finish a clear second of those racing on the unfavoured far side, under one length behind the only horse that beat her home from a high draw, Dandy Man, and that horse franked the form when scoring at The Curragh subsequently. The daughter of Piccolo is arguably better over six furlongs than she is five, despite winning last season's Nunthorpe Stakes at York over the minimum trip. Indeed, she wound up her campaign last term by finishing a cracking second to Goodricke in the valuable William Hill Sprint Cup at Haydock over six furlongs. With that run at Royal Ascot likely to have blow away the cob webs, La Cucaracha should be spot-on for her tilt at this contest, and she can emulate Frizzante in 2004 by striking a major blow for the fairer sex against the boys. Falkirk, who finished best of all when beaten under one length into fourth behind Takeover Target in the King's Stand, must have a sound chance of reversing the placings with his fellow countryman over this one furlong farther trip. Lee Freedman's charge isn't the easiest to catch right, but when on song he is more than capable of going close in a race of this nature and it's somewhat surprising that he is almost double the price of Takeover Target. Les Arcs and Balthazaar´s Gift, the first two home respectively in the Golden Jubilee, both merit respect, particularly the latter who is the least exposed of the duo and appears to be on an upward curve. However, neither are likely to prove good enough to take this, and both may struggle to uphold the form with the seventh home there, Iffraaj. The last-named was making his seasonal reappearance that day, and his first start for Godolphin, so is entitled to come on a good deal for the outing. He disappointed when one of the market leaders for this race last season following his victory in the Wokingham, but it would be no surprise if he were to fare much better this time around. Pivotal Point demonstrated a sound turn of foot when mowing down the luckless Benbaun in the Group 3 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Sprint Stakes at Sandown last weekend, and Peter Makin's charge is definitely worthy of consideration, along with Marcus Andronicus, who shaped as though dropping to this trip would be ideal when finishing fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot. The French 2000 Guineas runner-up merits the utmost respect given his profile and that he hails from the Aidan O'Brien camp. The Ballydoyle maestro sent out Mozart and Stravinsky to win this in 2001 and 1999 respectively, both of whom were three-year-olds dropping in trip. Enough said. For this reason - and given how well the French 2000 Guineas/St James's Palace Stakes form is working out, especially after Stormy River's Prix Jean Prat victory at Chantilly on Sunday - Marcus Andronicus has to be worth saving on at a tempting 14/1 with Betfred. Verdict - 1pt La Cucaracha @ 10/1 (VC Bet) & 0.50pts