Key events

8m ago3.12 YORK RESULT:
27m ago2.52 NEWMARKET RESULT:
42m ago2.39 YORK RESULT
53m agoASCOT 2.27 RESULT
1h ago2.15 NEWMARKET RESULT:
1h ago1.55 ASCOT RESULT:
2h ago1.40 NEWMARKET RESULT:
3h agoPreamble

Returning to earlier action, Paul Smith from the Coolmore Stud team that owns the first-race victor, Haffner, expressed clear satisfaction with the outcome.

"The run was very fluid, Ryan felt positive about him. He took well to the increase to seven furlongs and handled the surface, appearing as a potential stakes performer ahead.

"He still needs progress to match Constitution River, yet this marks a promising beginning."

3.25 NEWMARKET, BUNBURY CUP HANDICAP, 7F

This classic handicap at the July Festival sees a familiar contender return as Ian Williams's Aalto, successful two seasons back and narrowly beaten last year by the exceptionally well-weighted More Thunder, heads the market near 4-1.

The adaptable Back In Black along with Charlie Hills's Elarak, runner-up over this distance in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot recently, stand out as well but I remain with my earlier choice of Micky Fenton's Physique. Offered at 33-1 yesterday she has shortened to near 16-1, and her commanding display over course and distance last time, supported by a solid timefigure, offers a sound each-way opportunity.

SELECTION: PHYSIQUE.

3.12 YORK RESULT:

1. REDORANGE 12-1, 2. Aspect Island, 3. JM Jungle. 13 ran.

Revival Power sets the early tempo, a large group on the far side appears ahead ...

Two furlongs out, Revival Power still leads from Washington Heights, American Affair and Redorange advance, Redorange edges ahead ...

They are off in the 3.12 at York ...

They enter the stalls for the City Walls, American Affair and Starlust contest favoritism ... Heavenly Heather drifts to 8-1 ...

JULY CUP CONTENDER: BIG MOJO

Age: 4. Career: 14 races, 3 wins. Group One wins: 1. Trainer: Mick Appleby. Timeform rating: 119.

Big Mojo has shone in Mick Appleby's stable from his juvenile season, capturing the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood and finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

He secured his Group One success in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last summer:

... after finishing second to the surprise 66-1 winner, No Half Measures, in this event weeks earlier.

3.12 YORK, CITY WALLS STAKES, LISTED, 5F

Back at York for this Listed sprint over five furlongs with 14 runners. The market suggests a handicap feel, Heavenly Heather, sixth in the Group One King Charles III at Royal Ascot last month, aims to build on that near 13-2, while American Affair, winner of that Ascot Group One in 2025, sits next at 15-2. Starlust attracts support too but I favor Katie Scott's filly Luna A Inbhir Nis. She keeps improving with another career peak in a Group Three at Sandown last weekend. Though a quick return, she holds a live each-way chance on that form and benefits from stall six.

SELECTION: LUNA A INBHIR NIS

An extremely close finish at Newmarket, Alfaraz secured the lead hoped for yet St Anton prevailed by the narrowest margin.

2.52 NEWMARKET RESULT:

1. ST ANTON 10-1, 2. Alfaraz, 3. Wechaad. 8 ran.

They divide into two groups, Alfaraz leads along the rail with Moonfall close behind ...

At halfway Alfaraz maintains a comfortable advantage, Moonfall tracking ...

Alfaraz kicks for home ... still ahead as others lag, ... up the hill ... Alfaraz just leads as St Anton challenges ... neck and neck ... a photo finish between Alfaraz and St Anton

They are off in the 2.52 at Newmarket ...

Today's selections began slowly with three consecutive defeats, yet successes for Zeus Olympios (7-2) and The Lost King (3-1) in the latest races have restored a level-stakes profit. Hoping for Alfaraz next.

2.52 NEWMARKET, HANDICAP, 1M

A Royal Ascot winner features here as Moonfall took the Britannia Handicap comfortably.

However he enjoyed the best draw in stall 28 there and support today favors Andrew Balding's Alfaraz. He tended to pull early in his career but settled better when dropped to a mile last time and may face little opposition for the lead at a track favoring those up with the pace.

SELECTION: ALFARAZ

2.39 YORK RESULT

1. THE LOST KING 3-1 jt-fav, 2. Mr Swivell, 3. Checkandchallenge. 13 ran.

They are off in the 2.39 at York ...

Khafiz leads at a measured pace, Cerulean Bay trails turning in, The Lost King makes steady progress toward the front ... reaches the far rail and opens a length ... holds a solid lead but Mr Swivell closes ... final furlong and The Lost King maintains the advantage, securing victory ...

JULY CUP CONTENDER: MISSION CENTRAL

Age: 3. Career: 9 races, 6 wins. Group One wins: 1. Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Timeform rating: 119.

Aidan O'Brien's focus on producing stallions for Coolmore means few geldings, yet he rarely has Ryan Moore-ridden 14-1 Group One winners either. Mission Central stepped up from Listed company, perhaps explaining the price, but his King Charles III Stakes win on Royal Ascot's opening day showed no fluke, with Big Mojo back in tenth.

Heading to York for the first visit to the Knavesmire this afternoon, Cerulean Bay stands as a solid 3-1 favorite with The Lost King close behind at 7-2.

The main aspect of that Ascot race was a very slow early pace, and when it became a sprint in the straight, Zeus Olympios was better placed than the held-up More Thunder.

It proved a 1-2 for Karl Burke, as Holloway Boy edged Seagulls Eleven for second.

ASCOT 2.27 RESULT

1. ZEUS OLYMPIOS 7-2, 2. Holloway Boy, 3. Seagulls Eleven. 8 ran.

They are off in the 2.27 at Ascot ...

Zeus Olympios sets a steady pace with Naqeeb nearby ...

Seagulls Eleven moves toward the lead, Naqeeb ahead with Zeus Olympios close, More Thunder the favorite trails ...

Into the straight Seagulls Eleven leads but Zeus Olympios closes ... a strong finish and Zeus Olympios prevails, More Thunder arrives late into fourth from the slow pace .. Zeus Olympios wins!

Three minutes to the off at Ascot, More Thunder is a strong favorite at even-money with Zeus Olympios at 7-2 and Docklands next at 9-2.

2.39 YORK, HANDICAP, 7F 192YD

Two runners from less favorable draws at Royal Ascot last time lead the betting, Cerulean Bay, fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup, and The Lost King, who beat just one of 27 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, both around 7-2.

Cosi Bello, well ahead of The Lost King at the Royal meeting with a better draw, also attracts support, as does Checkandchallenge, tenth in the Hunt Cup.

SELECTION: THE LOST KING

2.15 NEWMARKET RESULT:

1. PLANET SEEKER 12-1, 2. Machadadorp, 3. True Test. 9 ran.

They are off in the 2.15 at Newmarket ...

Havana Pusey missed the break, Just A Girl sets a fair pace ...

Just A Girl still leads ... Machadadorp close, True Test under pressure ...

Two out, Machadadorp takes over but Planet Seeker moves ahead, Planet Seeker finishes strongly for an impressive win ...

Five minutes to the off in the fillies' handicap at Newmarket, Machadadorp, True Test and Song N Dance head the market at 100-30, 9-2 and 11-2.

2.27 ASCOT, GROUP TWO SUMMER MILE, 7F 213YD

Two principals from the Queen Anne Stakes that opened the Royal meeting last month return, More Thunder, second behind shock winner Ten Bob Tony, meets the fourth, Zeus Olympios. There was strong pace that day - Ten Bob Tony came from last to win as the field tired - and the steadier gallop likely on the round course could aid Zeus Olympios to reverse the form. Docklands, the 2025 Queen Anne winner, is a major player at a track suiting him well (though seventh in this year's renewal) while Christophe Ferland's No Lunch, unbeaten in his last six, offers interest from France.

SELECTION: ZEUS OLYMPIOS.

1.55 ASCOT RESULT:

1. DUBAI BLING 12-1, 2. Behike, 3. Fandom. 15 ran.

They are off in the 1.55 at Ascot...

Schrodinger's Cat breaks well, Toca Madera prominent early ...

Behike comes stands side, Dubai Bling advances far side, into the final furlong .. two in it, separated on the track, a photo between Dubai Bling and Behike ...

The sprint handicap at Ascot follows: Behike is a clear favorite at 100-30 but Schrodinger's Cat shortens to around 8-1 second favorite with King Of Light and Havana Hurricane next at 9-1.

JULY CUP CONTENDER: DOUBLE RUSH

Age: 4. Career: 11 races, 5 wins. Group One wins: 0. Trainer: Andrew Balding. Timeform rating: 118p.

The gap between top handicappers and Group One sprinters is not always wide and Andrew Balding's Wokingham winner is the latest attempting the step up.

Double Rush benefited from a high draw at Royal Ascot yet deserves credit for carrying 9st 9lb to victory in a strong time, and in Timeform's assessment the performance matched the Jubilee Stakes won by Almeraq earlier. He is young, lightly raced, improving and firmly in contention.

A strong endorsement for Abraham Lincoln in the Superlative Stakes later, as Haffner finished less than two lengths behind his stable companion on debut at the Curragh last month.

1.40 NEWMARKET RESULT:

1. HAFFNER 5-4 fav, 2. Al Wathba, 3. Velociraptor. 7 ran.

They are off in the 1.40 at Newmarket!

Haffner and Subscription break well ...

Al Wathba makes ground toward the lead on the near side ... the first three in the betting now 1-2-3 ...

Haffner still leads narrowly at halfway, Subscription asked for effort, Al Wathba a bigger threat to the favorite ...

Haffner leads into the final furlong ... Al Wathba runs on but cannot reach the favorite ... Haffner wins at 5-4 favorite. Al Wathba second, Subscription in a photo for third.

Almost off at Newmarket. As expected, Haffner is a warm favorite near 11-10, but the best-backed is Andrew Balding's Subscription, an impeccably bred son of Night Of Thunder, now around 11-4. Al Wathba, however, eases to 7-2.

JULY CUP CONTENDER: ALMERAQ

Age: 4. Career: 7 races, 4 wins. Group One wins: 1. Trainer: William Haggas. Timeform rating: 120.

William Haggas's colt arrives as one of the least experienced in the field, having missed 258 days after a bad fall at York in September 2025. Jim Crowley, his rider then, has not yet returned, but Almeraq made a successful four-year-old debut in May and followed up at 25-1 in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

He stayed on to lead in the final strides there, needing every yard of the stiff uphill finish, yet is clearly a highly talented young sprinter who may still improve.

Satono Reve, incidentally, would follow an illustrious compatriot onto the July Cup roll of honour if successful this afternoon, as Agnes World