Darley July Cup: Tom Collins previews Newmarket feature and provides his Saturday NAP

The Commonwealth Cup, which was introduced just seven years ago in 2015, has quickly developed into the most important and informative trial for the Group 1 Darley July Cup. 

Exceptional sprinter Muhaarar got the ball rolling when he won the inaugural edition of Royal Ascot’s three-year-old highlight before plundering this event by a nose under Paul Hanagan. He later went on to win the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Group 1 Qipco Champions Sprint before taking up stallion duties.

2016 Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection was pitched in against the boys in the July Cup and finished a highly creditable third behind Limato, while 2017 Commonwealth Cup runner-up Harry Angel reversed the form with Ascot conqueror Caravaggio to record a famous success in this race for trainer Clive Cox.

Eqtidaar let the trend down in 2018 when he finished just ninth at Newmarket, but the strength of the Commonwealth Cup form was again on show just 12 months later when Ten Sovereigns and Advertise dominated the July Cup finish after taking fourth and first respectively at the royal meeting. Placed efforts from Golden Horde (2020) and Dragon Symbol (2021) further enhanced the cross-comparison of form.

Four horses from this year’s Commonwealth Cup will pitch themselves against their elders in the 2022 July Cup - a battalion that is led by Royal Ascot winner and star sprinter Perfect Power, who unsurprisingly heads the market for trainer Richard Fahey and the red-hot Christophe Soumillon.

I’m a big believer in this son of Ardad, so much so that I’ve backed him on all bar one start (the 2,000 Guineas) since he finished fifth in last year’s Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and he’s rewarded me every time. Without him, this year’s Royal Ascot meeting would have been a punting shambles on this end! 

His Middle Park and Prix Morny victories last year proved that he was the best two-year-old sprinter in the country and, after an ambitious tilt at Classic glory failed to pay off, he again propelled his name to the top of the pile with an outstanding victory last month. A well-run six furlongs is his ideal distance and he should not only get the perfect pace setup here, but he will also love the climb to the line on the July Course.

He needs to improve around 3lb to meet the average rating required to win a July Cup, but that’s a distinct possibility given he remains lightly raced and is only making his fourth start of the campaign. There isn’t an absolute chunk of value in his price, but he still remains the recommended bet in a race that seems to lack significant depth. I certainly don’t think Flaming Rib, Cadamosto or Twilight Jet will reverse the form.

Australian challenger Artorius is the one unknown. His southern hemisphere form stacks up well in the context of this event, and he ran a screamer in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee against older horses last time out. That performance proved that he can mix it with the best and he should appreciate the stiff test here, but he will have to pass every runner and that’s no easy task.

He finished behind the Godolphin pair, Naval Crown and Creative Force, last month and the trio will renew their rivalry. Not much separates them on that evidence, though I would narrowly prefer Artorius on his second run in the country now that he has been given time to acclimatise. 

Saturday's best bet

The first two days of the 2022 July Festival has been extremely successful for this column with four winners from five selections - a tally that will hopefully increase to five from six if Perfect Power gets the job done in Saturday's featured sprint! 

Then it will be all eyes on Glen Savage, who is my best UK bet of the weekend. This four-year-old colt is a son of Sea The Stars out of a Fantastic Light mare, so, not only is he bred to hit lofty heights on the racetrack, but he should only improve once he has strengthened up over a mile and a half or further.

Glen Savage made a highly encouraging start to his racing career last year at Newbury when he drew clear with the experienced Title, who was sent off a short-priced favourite and is now rated 108. On that evidence he is a Group horse and, although he slightly disappointed when fourth on his comeback from a 411-day absence earlier this season, he travelled like the best horse in the race before taking a blow in the final furlong. 

An opening mark of 89 looks a gift for Glen Savage and I'm extremely hopeful that he will return to winning ways now that he encounters 1m4f for the first time this year.

Recommended bets

Perfect Power (4.25 Newmarket) @ 3.8
Glen Savage (5.00 Newmarket) @ 3.5