July Cup - top class G1 sprint with a short priced favourite
15:10 NewmarketVarenar - It's well known on here that I follow racing in various countries around the world and this French colt is one of the few in the race who'll appreciate the stiffer track at Newmarket compared to Ascot. A Group 1 winner as a 3yo on Arc day at Longchamp when his victims included star filly Goldikova he's taken a couple of starts to come to himself this term, with a defeat at odds-on in Germany preceeding his run behind a number of todays rivals, most notably Starspangledbanner (raced on favoured stands side) and Fleeting Spirit (led them home on the far side). Varenar was on the unfavoured far side at Ascot and as such had little chance of winning with a smaller group of horses to race with, fewer pace angles and although he was beaten over 4 lengths the last day I expect this track to suit him much better and he should be finishing strongly at the finish. Gerald Mosse replaces the injured Christophe Lemaire (broke his leg at Compeigne on Monday) and he's drawn on the favoured far side, with the likelihood of them all racing in one group being on the freshest of the ground should play into his strengths.
Advice: 2pts Win, 1pt Place @ 33/1 (William Hill, Ladbrokes)