Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Cox won Group 1 sprint with sire
Three-year-olds have a fantastic recent record in the 6f Group 1 July Cup, as does trainer Clive Cox, so Golden Horde appeals most for the feature sprint at Newmarket on Saturday (15:35).
His handler won this with Harry Angel in 2017 and more significantly Lethal Force in 2013. Golden Horde is by that sprinter and enjoyed a breakthrough success at the highest level last time out.
A winner of three of his seven career starts, he improved on a two-length fifth to Arizona in the Coventry Stakes with victory at Glorious Goodwood last summer.
Golden Horde asserted inside the final furlong and beat the re-opposing threat by three-quarters of a length in the Richmond Stakes.
He was then far from disgraced when third to Earthlight at Deauville in France on bottomless ground.
As Golden Horde improved on that Prix Morny effort to be just a neck behind the winner in the Middle Park on the Rowley Mile course here last autumn, he continues to progress.
That was evident in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot where he led at halfway. Golden Horde kept on well for a ready 1 1/2 lengths success over American raider Kimari.
Three-year-olds get 6lb weight-for-age from their elders in the July Cup, so that puts them at a big advantage. On adjusted ratings, Golden Horde is 4lb and upwards clear of his 12 rivals.
Cox’s stable remains in-form and regular jockey Adam Kirby is again aboard. There is nothing not to like about the profile of Golden Horde here.
Four of the last five July Cup winners were three-year-olds. This one is open to further progress and race terms clearly favour him.
Golden Horde is thus entitled to be favourite and worth backing to emulate his sire by winning this.
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The other leading Royal Ascot form is Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Hello Youmzain. Kevin Ryan’s charge has the same official rating as Golden Horde, but gives that 6lb age allowance away here.
This four-year-old Kodiac colt has won five of his nine starts, including the Haydock Sprint Cup last autumn. HELLO Youmzain is two from four in Group 1 company and handles good-to-soft going.
Any further rain that hits Newmarket during the July Festival shouldn’t be a problem for him, then. As Hello Youmzain has beaten most of the older sprinters in the line-up, he is the clear best of those.
The form of his head victory at Royal Ascot last month has since been franked by the fifth home, Speak In Colours. That Joseph O’Brien trained Irish raider has since won two Group outings in the Emerald Isle.
Hello Youmzain showed guts in the Diamond Jubilee as he rallied when headed and got back up close home. While re-opposing third and fourth home Sceptical and Khaadem don’t have much to find, there were no excuses for either.
As Hell Youmzain has 2lb and 4lb in hand respectively on them on official figures, off level weights he should confirm form. He therefore rates the biggest danger to Golden Horde, but is at an obvious disadvantage.
It’s interesting that trainer Charlie Hills saddles two July Cup contenders in Khaadem and Equilateral. The latter has changed hands since chasing home stable companion Battaash.
That was in the King’s Stand over 5f Royal Ascot and Equilateral is now owned by Fitri Hay. He is only one from five over the extra furlong of this, but did keep on into second last time out.
Oxted the each-way value in July Cup market
One horse who sidestepped Royal Ascot altogether to stay fresh for this is the Roger Teal trained Oxted. The yard continues to be among the winners, so the four-year-old gelding looks an each-way bet.
Oxted’s sire Mayson won the July Cup in 2012 and he has progressed with victories in his last two starts. After plundering the valuable Portland Handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival, he stepped up into Group 3 company on reappearance.
That came in the Abernant Stakes at this venue on the Rowley Mile course. Oxted took a keen hold, but led going easily approaching two out.
He only needed pushing along and riding out for a length success over Breathtaking Look. The re-opposing Brando was back in fifth and beaten over seven lengths, but has since run well to chase home Judicial in the same grade at Newcastle.
The break of 36 days since Oxted last ran in the longest of any horse in the July Cup this year. After just eight career starts, in which he has hit the frame on five occasions, there is definitely more to come.
He is well worth a crack at this level. There is some juice in the odds on offer about Oxted here, although he will have to progress again.
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