Tag Archive for: July Cup

Notable Speech handed York target after July Cup eclipse

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Charlie Appleby may seek a happy medium with Notable Speech after his experimental sprint run in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes ended in defeat.

Last season’s 2000 Guineas winner has got his head in front only once since that Classic success and has seemed to be faltering towards the end of his one-mile assignments this season.

He was therefore scaled back to six furlongs to see if that would trigger a return to form and though the distance posed an unknown, he was still well fancied as the 85-40 favourite under William Buick.

The Group One contest was not to be the scene of his comeback, however, and he ultimately finished fifth to leave his trainer pondering a stab at seven furlongs next.

He said: “Will genuinely sounded disappointed, he said he’d thought he’d done everything right and then at the business end he just didn’t finish.

“We’ve been seeing the same thing at a mile so maybe we’ve got a look a bit harder at him, I don’t know.

“It was always going to be hard to jump to make an assessment after his first time sprinting at this level.

“I see no reason not to meet halfway at seven (furlongs) and go to York, which was always our plan.

“If the horse comes out of it well, and I see no reason why he won’t, we’ll head to the City of York Stakes.”

Of stablemate Symbol Of Honour, who was eighth under Oisin Murphy, he added: “Symbol Of Honour really doesn’t like the Rowley Mile, we’re nowhere near the Rowley Mile but he still wasn’t handling the track.

“Oisin still said to me that he’s a Group One sprinter in the making so he’ll carry on sprinting, he’ll go to Haydock or somewhere like that. A slick track will suit him perfectly.”

Connections of the Mick Appleby-trained runner-up Big Mojo were thrilled with their colt’s effort and are planning a step back to five furlongs for the remainder of the campaign.

“I’m absolutely delighted with him. We’ve tried him over six this year, we’ve been brave,” said owner Paul Teasdale.

“Today was always going to be a tough ask but he did fantastically well. I’m really proud of him, I thought he’d just about got it but not quite, I’m still delighted.

“The King George, the Nunthorpe, the Flying Five – we’re in all of them so we’ve got some options.

“He travels so well, he can withstand the pace and he’s got a great finish in him.

“He won the Molecomb last year, he’d be delighted to go back to Goodwood.

“He’s really maturing into a top-class horse.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket, who was well supported in the lead up to the race, finished 12th at odds of 13-2 and may be due an easy few weeks after he was out of luck at Royal Ascot too.

The trainer said: “It was a good, strong pace and he got back a little bit. We’ll see where we’ll go, we might give him a little break and freshen him up for the autumn.

“It didn’t work the last day and it didn’t work today, so that’s what we might do. A little break and we might have him back for Haydock or something like that.”

No Half Measures stuns July Cup rivals

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Richard Hughes’ No Half Measures ran out a shock winner of the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket.

At 66-1 she was a real outsider in the Group One contest, and from stall 15 she kept out of trouble under Neil Callan on the far side of the track.

As the six-furlong event reached the business end she was picking off rivals and after locking horns with Big Mojo, it was No Half Measures who came out on top by a neck with a further length and three-quarters back to Run To Freedom in third.

Hughes steered Oasis Dream to victory in the 2003 July Cup and after taking up training in 2015, No Half Measures is his first Group One winner as a handler.

Neil Callan returns to the winner's enclosure aboard No Half Measures
Neil Callan returns to the winner’s enclosure aboard No Half Measures (Joe Giddens/PA)

An emotional Hughes said: “I’ve just got a bear hug off William Buick and he’s cut my lip!

“It’s brilliant. Disappointments when you’re training are very hard and the highs don’t meet the lows. We fancied the filly yesterday Mood Queen and she finished last, which was excruciating, and the highs aren’t even high enough.

“It’s an up and down game, but I’m coping better with it now than I used to. It’s been a tough enough ride to get to here, but I’m definitely appreciating more now than when I started.

“I didn’t appreciate all those good horses when I was riding, I just took it for granted and I was very lucky to be riding for Richard Hannon and having the Khalid Abdullah job – I was privileged to be riding good horses every year.

“We get a good horse through the yard now and again and I’m trying to mind it like a baby and I’m watching it every day in case it goes wrong because you probably only have one or two bullets. In Hannon’s, if one broke you’d get on another one next day or I’d get another ride. There was a flow of horses and I found it very easy.

“I was a little bit naive when I started training – I thought if I bought 20 horses one of them was going to be good. Then I bought 20 the following year and still no good one.

“This is harder, but more rewarding for sure.”

Of gaining his first Group One as a trainer, he added: “I’ve got the monkey off my back that’s for sure and I can retire now saying I rode a July Cup winner and trained one, so that’s really nice.

Richard Hughes (second left) with No Half Measures
Richard Hughes (second left) with No Half Measures (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Of course I want more, it’s my nature as I’m very competitive, but if you don’t have the horses you can’t train them.”

No Half Measures won a handicap at this meeting last year before graduating to Group Three and Listed success, but Hughes admitted he had not expected to hit the mark at the highest level.

He said: “She won here last year in a handicap and when Ryan (Moore) got off her I asked him if we’d get a bit of black type and he said ‘she’s better than that’, which is something Ryan never says! He’s a realist, so I was quite surprised by that.

“We plotted to get our black type and we got it and she’s done nothing but improve.

“There was very little pressure today really. At halfway I thought she was going OK and then I just held my head because I couldn’t believe what was happening!

“I just thought if she’s going to get caught she’s going to caught, because they normally do, but I would have been pleased even with second or third, so to win is just a bonus.”

Callan has had a quiet season so far and was grateful to get the Group One call up from Hughes.

He said: “It’s surreal because I’m getting into the twilight of my career. My son Jack is starting and I’m getting a lot of flak saying I’ve getting give up. He was with Kevin Ryan yesterday and my old boss Kevin telling me I’ve got to retire so this one’s for you, Kev!

“I’ve got to thank Richard (Hughes) because if you don’t get given these opportunities then you can’t take them and I’m not in a position to be going around scouting and taking rides.

“You know this game – you’re only as good as your last ride so you’ve got to come out and prove yourself every time you come out, every day.”

Sat TV Trends: Ascot & York (12th July 2025)

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Plenty going on again this Saturday with a staggering ELEVEN LIVE ITV races to take in.

We’ve the final day of the Newmarket July Meeting (covered separately), with the Group One July Cup , plus the Group Two Superlative Stakes and the competitive Bunbury Cup Handicap.

Then at Ascot, we’ve two more LIVE races to enjoy from the Berkshire track that include the Group Two Summer Mile, while the ITV cameras are also at York to take in four races that include the competitive John Smith’s Cup Handicap.

As always, we’ve got all the races covered with key trends and stats – use these to find the best past profile of winning horses.

Ascot Horse Racing Trends

2:22 – Cornish Orchards Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2) Cl2 (4yo+) 1m ITV

16/16 - Aged 4, 5 or 6 years-old
14/16 – Had won over at least a mile before
14/16 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
13/16 – Placed favourites
12/16 – Had raced at Ascot before (3 won)
11/16 – Aged either 4 or 6 years-old
11/16 – Previous Group race winner
9/16 – Winning favourites (8 of the last 10 have won)
9/16 – Had won at least 4 times before
7/16 – Aged 4 years-old
7/16 – Raced at Ascot last time out
6/16 – Won last time out
3/16 – Had won a Group 1 before
Quddwah won the race last year (2024)
11 of the last 14 winners were draw in stalls 5 or lower
Trainer William Haggas has won 2 of the last 7 runnings
Trainer Andrew Balding has won 2 of the last 6 runnings
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 11/4

4:50 – Heritage Handicap Cl2 (3yo+) 5f ITV

9/10 – Ran in the last 3 weeks
9/10 – Had won over 5f before
8/10 – Carried 8-10 or more
8/10 – Had won between 2-6 times
7/10 – Didn’t win last time out
7/10 – Returned between 7/1 and 14/1
7/10 – Aged between 4 and 6 years-old
6/10 – Came from a double-figure stall
4/10 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
5/10 – Ran at Ascot last time out
2/10 – Ridden by Adam Kirby
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 9/1

York Horse Racing Trends

2:00 - John Smith’s Racing Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-100) 1m ITV

13/13 - Aged between 3-6 years-old
12/13 - Ran in the last 4 weeks
12/13 - Won over at least 1m before
12/13 - Won between 2-4 times before
11/13 - Carried 9st 1lb or more in weight
10/13 - Aged 4 or 5 years-old
10/13 - Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
9/13 - Drawn in stall 7 or lower
9/13 - Irish bred
8/13 - Finished 4th or better last time out
8/13 - Had run at the track before (York)
6/13 - Placed favourites
5/13 - Trained by David O’Meara
2/13 - Winning favourites
The average winning SP in the last 10 runs is 7/1
Blue For You (7/2) won the race in 2023 and 2024

2:35 - John Smith's City Walls Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f ITV

14/14 – Won over 5f before
13/14 – Raced in the last 4 weeks
12/14 – Placed favourites
10/14 – Unplaced last time out
10/14 – Won at York before
9/14 – Rated between 101 and 111
7/14 – Had only won at Handicap class before
6/14 – Aged between 5-7 years-old
6/14 – Won by a neck or less
5/14 – Ran at Ascot last time out
Last 7 winners aged between 3-5 years-old
Trainer Tim Easterby has won the race in 2019 & 2021
Starlust (13/8 fav) won the race in 2024
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 9/2

3:10 - John Smith's Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 (3yo+) 1m2½f ITV

21/23 – Returned 20/1 or shorter in the betting
21/23 – Had won over 1m1f or further before
19/23 – Aged 5 or younger
15/23 – Returned 14/1 or shorter in the betting
14/23 – Had between 3-5 previous runs already that season
14/23 – Came from stall 9 or higher
14/23 – Carried 9-3 or less
13/23 – Top 4 finish in their previous race
13/23 – Aged 4 years-old
13/23 – Officially rated between 99-105
10/23 – Had run at York before
6/23 – Ran at Royal Ascot last time out
3/23 – Won by trainer Richard Fahey
3/23 – Trained by William Haggas
3/23 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
2/23 - Trained by Andrew Balding (2 of the last 6)
2 of the last 6 winner owned by King Power
Since 1960 just one winner older than 6
50% of the last 14 winners trained by Varian (2), Haggas (3), Balding (2)
Only one 3 year-old winner since 2002 (2010, Wigmore Hall)
11 of the last 14 winners aged 4 or 5
8 of the last 11 winners carried 9st 3lbs or more
The average winning SP in the last 23 years is 11/1
Enfijaar (15/2) won the race in 2024

3:45 - John Smith's Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m6f ITV

18/19 – Had between 1 and 3 previous runs that season
18/19 – Won from stall 10 or lower
16/19 – Aged 5 or younger
14/19 – Didn’t win their previous race
13/19 – Placed favourites
10/19 – Aged 4 years-old
9/19 – Had run at York before
8/19 – Ran at Ascot last time out
6/19 – Horses from stall 2 that finished second
6/19 – Winning favourites
Alsakib won the race in 2024
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 8/1

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Notable Speech aiming to join July Cup giants

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It might be stretching it to say Notable Speech attempts to do an Ajdal in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup, but his presence has certainly added lots of spice to the Newmarket showpiece.

Dewhurst winner Ajdal was miraculously brought back from defeats in the 2000 Guineas and Derby by Sir Michael Stoute to win the sprint championship in 1987, while the following year crack miler Soviet Star shone for Andre Fabre and France.

Royal Academy was another brilliant miler to win the July Cup, and now it is last year’s Guineas hero Notable Speech who gets his chance for Charlie Appleby and William Buick, having so far this year been fourth in both the Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne.

Buick – on a high this week after recording his 2,000th career success in Britain – said: “I’ll tell you after the race whether it was the correct decision or not!

William Buick is fresh from riding his 2,000th winner
William Buick is fresh from riding his 2,000th winner (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club)

“He’s only ever raced over a mile and he is a very speedy miler, which the good milers usually are. I’ve always felt he could drop back in trip, certainly to seven furlongs, and I know Charlie has earmarked the City of York as one of his possible targets.

“Obviously we won’t know fully about six furlongs until we try it, but it’s worth a try. He’s a horse with loads of speed and if he can adapt to that early pace and be within himself, I think he’ll be there with a very good shot.”

Reflecting on his Ascot performance, Buick said: “He was unlucky and it was such a nightmare of a race. They went so slow and we were in a pocket and it was just one of those races you couldn’t take too much out of. Sadly, we just had to put a line through it and move on.

“Once the dust settled, Charlie and the team thought long and hard about this race for him and we’ll give it a go.

“It’s a different thing to what he has done. If you go back to the Guineas he won, that was a strongly-run Guineas run at a fast pace throughout and he’s a horse with a high cruising speed, so I hope that he will give himself every chance to travel within himself early in the race, wherever he’s happy.”

Appleby also runs Symbol Of Honour, who had been among the ante-post favourites until his stablemate was supplemented.

The trainer said: “On their home work they’re chalk and cheese, but Symbol Of Honour has always been like that and when he gets on the racecourse he’s just tough – he gets out on the pace and grinds it out.

“Notable Speech, without stating the obvious, is the class horse going into the race.

“When Will got off him at Kempton last year he said the English Guineas might be a bit stiff for him, but obviously he went and won the English Guineas and from there on he’s only ever run over a mile.

“But from what I saw in the Lockinge and although it was hard to assess Ascot because they went steady, he is a supreme traveller and I felt he’s got plenty to gain by running here on Saturday and nothing to lose.”

The ever-growing Wathnan Racing run three, but it was not a hard choice for retained rider James Doyle to pick Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda following her sterling effort when third at Royal Ascot.

“I haven’t actually had a chance to sit on her recently but I did her ride her before, albeit as a two-year-old,” said Doyle.

“I’m sure she’ll be a little bit different to the last time I sat on her, but I had a good chat with Andrew about whether it was a good idea to come down and he felt she’s very straightforward. He said there are no issues there, he didn’t think.

“Her two wins did come with ease in the ground and I’m sure one day that that might help her, but her best form  – her last run and some other bits of form –  came on very quick ground.

“When she ran behind Kind Of Blue there was plenty of ease in the ground but she’s shown to be very versatile.

“I don’t think it’s too much of a worry and she’s not a big, heavy filly, she’s quite light on her feet.”

Wathnan are also represented by Karl Burke’s Night Raider and the Tom Clover-trained Rogue Lightning.

Whistlejacket has winning form on the July course
Whistlejacket has winning form on the July course (Joe Giddens/PA)

Aidan O’Brien last won the race in 2019 with Ten Sovereigns and 12 months prior to that with another three-year-old, US Navy Flag. He runs Whistlejacket from the Classic generation this year.

Paul Smith of owners Coolmore said: “He’s working very well at home, but I see the money is coming for him and I don’t know where that money is coming from.

“He’s in good form, he’s a quality horse and was a good two-year-old, so we’re looking forward to seeing him run on Saturday.”

Guineas hero Notable Speech to add spice to July Cup

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Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech is to have his first race over six furlongs in the Al Basti Equiworld July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.

Last year’s 2000 Guineas winner impressed connections enough in a gallop over the weekend to earn his place in the premier sprint.

A post on Godolphin’s X account read: “Update from Moulton Paddocks: Following a very pleasing piece of work over the weekend, the decision has been made to supplement Dubawi’s 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech for the G1 July Cup @NewmarketRace.”

Since he made his debut on the all-weather in January 2024, Notable Speech has been campaign exclusively over a mile, with his career highlight coming on the Rowley Mile last May.

At the time he was still unbeaten and while he has found things tougher since then, he did win the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

This season he has been fourth in both the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

Notable Speech features among 16 contenders for the July Cup following the confirmation stage and is one of two supplementary entries for owners Godolphin, with Sheikh Mohammed’s operation also stumping up the required £36,000 to add John and Thady Gosden’s Jersey Stakes runner-up Spy Chief to the field.

Symbol Of Honour (centre) is a second leading contender for Charlie Appleby
Symbol Of Honour (centre) is another leading contender for Charlie Appleby (Steven Paston/PA)

The Godolphin blue could also be carried by Notable Speech’s stablemate Symbol Of Honour, who has won four of his five starts this year and was last seen edging out Arabian Dusk in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May.

Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, who finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, is one of three potential runners for Wathnan Racing along with the Tom Clover-trained Rogue Lightning and Night Raider from Karl Burke’s yard.

The latter faltered after making much of the running in the King Charles III Stakes at the Royal meeting and his trainer hopes he can fare better over a furlong further this weekend.

Burke said: “Night Raider is a very quick horse, there’s no doubt about it, but I think he’s a horse that likes to get into a rhythm and he’s more chance of getting into that rhythm over six furlongs than he does over five.

“I think over five at the top level they jump and go so hard early and he’s a horse that likes to jump and get into a nice rhythm, which I think he has more chance of doing over six and he obviously can stay seven as well.

“Six is the ideal trip, whether he’s up to a Group One at this stage of his career we’ll find out on Saturday.”

Other leading hopes include Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin, Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket and top-class mare Believing, who is in foal to Frankel and is set to make her final career start before retirement for trainer George Boughey.