A classy field of sprinters will assemble at the 6f start for the 2025 July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday 12th July. All eyes will be on whether Notable Speech is a cut above his rivals or will the likes of Whistlejacket or Flora Of Bermuda claim glory? Well, our in-house tipster Steve Chambers is taking on that trio with a smart sprinter that can land the prize.
Favourites
A stunning winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last season, Notable Speech then went on to win the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but Charlie Appleby’s Classic hero has failed to get his head in front since that victory last July and he now drops back to six furlongs for the first time in his career. Fourth in the Lockinge Stakes over a mile at Newbury on his first run this season, he was last seen over the same trip in the Queen Anne Stakes and had to settle for fourth again. Supplemented for this event, he’s a fascinating runner and he’s shown he has a real cruising speed and could be one that relishes the drop back to 6f and is entitled to be well fancied.
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is always a good form guide for this and the contender that finished in the best place at Royal Ascot was Flora Of Bermuda, who finished third in that Group 1 contest. Andrew Balding’s raider has been a real model of consistency this campaign and has been knocking at the door, but whether she has the quality to get her head in front that is up for question.
Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin could only finish seventh behind Flora Of Bermuda at Ascot, but had previously won the Duke Of York Stakes at York. Sent off favourite for the race 12 months ago, the four-year-old could only finish fifth, so he needs to improve to strike a blow in this year’s competitive renewal.
Aidan O’Brien is looking to become the first trainer to win six July Cups and the Ballydoyle maestro will saddle a leading duo in the shape of Whistlejacket and Ides Of March. The former makes most appeal and shaped with promise when sixth in the Commonwealth Cup and receiving weight from his older rivals could be one that has a huge chance.
Outsiders
All eyes are on Notable Speech for the Godolphin operation, but they could have a lively second shot fired in the shape of Symbol Of Honour, who is a real sprinter on the upgrade and the three-year-old could be another from that Classic generation that plays a notable role. Having won a Listed event at Newbury at the start of the season, the Havana Grey gelding was then last seen storming to victory in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock and he could be open to more improvement. While question marks will hang over whether Notable Speech is a sprinter, Symbol Of Honour is proven at the trip and with Oisin Murphy in the saddle he has the capabilities of running a mighty race.
George Boughey’s Believing was well fancied for the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, but failed to land a blow, so he’s on a bit of a comeback mission. A class act on his day, the five-year-old mare will need to improve on that last outing, but does have the ability to feature.
Big Mojo was seventh in the Commonwealth Cup last month, but was surprisingly pulled back from the front that day, so if more positive tactics are shown this time around then he could land a blow, while the likes of Night Raider, Jasour and Spy Chief add more depth to the race.
2025 July Cup Tips
Heading into the race on the back of two fine victories, SYMBOL OF HONOUR can continue his rapid incline and claim a first Group 1 victory in what is a cracking July Cup. Stablemate Notable Speech is the proven class act in the field and could be staying on in the closing stages to grab second, while Believing can bounce back from an Ascot flop and bag third place.
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