Oxted and Fallon rewarded for rare July Cup double

Only Sundridge has won the Group One Darley July Cup Stakes three times (1902-1904), but a handful of horses made it double, and Oxted will look to join that list this afternoon with Cieren Fallon on board again, after winning this past year.

Ranked 112 claiming the 2020 victory, Oxted has had varying fortunes since then, and I was starting to worry about him when he only managed to get into a Group 3 and Group 2 until April and May respectively.

But any doubts I had about his abilities were dispelled when he drove a meteoric run to win the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, pushing his rating back up to 119.

It’s pretty strong ground and a really good record could easily be made for Starman, Dragon Symbol, and Rohaan, among others, but Roger Teal’s court word is that he’s in flight form at home, and I think the 7/2 available in early markets offers a lot of value (4.25 Newmarket).

On the same card, Dhabab gets the go-ahead at 9/4 or so in Group Two Bet365 Superlative Stakes (3.15) for John and Thady Gosden, with Frankie Dettori on board.

He looked smart enough when he won his first race at Leicester in June, but the two-year-old ran into trouble during the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last time around, so he is forgiven for his sixth place finish on 17. here will probably suit him, and he’s the kind of bouncer.

In Ascot, at Michael Stoute Royal reality has a few questions to answer following a poor performance in the Queen Anne Stakes here last month, but in all fairness a group one is above their level and I’m happy to take it at 7/1 for the group two Betfred Summer Mile Stakes this afternoon (3.0).

Winner of Group 3 in August, it seems a bit difficult to find the right races, but he definitely has talent to come. While this race is competitive and I have some doubts about the six year old, decent odds are good compensation for any negative points.

In York, I’ll go all over the place Dawaam, which was ranked 11/1 in the top markets for the John Smith’s Cup Handicap (4.05).

Trained by Owen Burrows, he was a bit overwhelmed when he finished way down the field in a Listed race at Royal Ascot last time around, but he had already won two handicaps at Chelmsford and his turf score is 2 lower. pounds to his victory. mark all weather.

The other one in York that fascinates me is Roger Varian’s Prince of Fujairah, who is expected to come out around 9/2 in group three John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (2.20).

Winner of two handicaps last season including the Ebor in York, he tried his luck in a few Group races and was not dishonored, ranking in everyone including the Irish St Leger finalist. He should be able to win a race like this and my only concern is that we haven’t seen him for 266 days.

The one that worries me the most is probably the frontrunner Hukum, who did well in a group two at Royal Ascot.

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