July Cup Runners 2024 - Inisherin in the Hot Seat for Double Sprint Glory

There will be 12 runners lining up for the 2024 July Cup, the feature race of Newmarket’s midsummer meeting on Saturday, 13th July. Run on the specialised July Course over 6f, the sprint brings together speedsters of all generations with the three-year-olds stepping up to meet the older brigade, and a new winner will appear on the roll call yet again with no defending champion taking part.

Shaquille became the first Classic aged winner since 2019 when taking it for the three-year-olds last year and Inisherin will be looking to make that back-to-back successes for his age group. Kevin Ryan’s star is swiftly proving top class, winning on both his starts so far over the trip, including the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time out.

Jasour was behind him in that contest and also represent the youngest entrants, as do champion juvenile Vandeek, beaten by Inisherin on return and who misses the royal meeting, and River Tiber, who may drop back in distance here in his quest to win Aidan O’Brien a record breaking sixth success in the race. Military is his other confirmation.

Among the older contestants is Khaadem, who recently won his second Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the grand age of eight at Royal Ascot. He caused another surprise that day, while the seven-year-old Kinross may also make his turf reappearance here; he was third to Shaquille a year ago.

All of Regional, Mill Stream and Swingalong were also placed at Ascot on their most recent starts and will seek to benefit from the natural variation of top level sprints. The remaining trio are former Group 1 winner Art Power and multiple Group race scorers Mitbaahy and Vadream.

July Cup Runners