Speech Is Favourite to Make a July Cup Statement

The July Cup, one of Britain’s most valuable and prestigious sprint races, looks at the mercy of a three-year-old. Roy Brindley asks, which one?

Racing action at the QIPCO Guineas Festival staged at Newmarket in 2019.

Notable Speech is the favourite to land the July Cup over a trip that represents virgin territory. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

  • Notable Speech steps back in trip, hoping to find the July Cup winner’s enclosure.
  • Charlie Appleby has a strong hand with improving three-year-old Symbol of Honour in the field.
  • With trustworthy Commonwealth Cup form, Big Mojo is fancied to put forward a big effort.

This Saturday, Notable Speech will attempt to become the first horse in over 60 years to win the 2000 Guineas and July Cup. Scoring just once in his six starts since winning the colt’s classic in 2024, connections will be hoping the drop to six furlongs sees Notable Speech return to the winner’s enclosure.

Despite being campaigned exclusively over a mile, online bookmakers believe this five-time winner, representing Charlie Appleby, is the horse to beat. Top-priced 3/1, the four-year-old son of Dubawi heads the early betting for the 15-runner contest.

July Cup history shows stepping down in trip is no bad thing. Many previous winners of the Group 1 contest had previously been campaigned over further distances. Factoring in Appleby’s consistent 33% strike rate, Notable Speech’s odds are understandable.

Symbol of Honour Symbol of Hope

Godolphin’s private trainer has a second string to his July Cup bow with Symbol Of Honour also in the field. Whereas Appleby’s Notable Speech is on a losing streak, this three-year-old contender is in fine form. As the winner of four of his five 2025 starts, he has the profile of an improving horse.

With his stable in irresistible form – responsible for three winners at Newmarket on Thursday – and three-year-olds having the best record in the contest (despite fewer runners than older horses), Symbol Of Honour appears to have outstanding credentials.

However, 2022’s July Cup winning trainer, Andrew Balding, and five-time July Cup winning trainer, Aidan O’Brien, also have strong candidates – Flora Of Bermuda and Whistlejacket – and they might have their own ideas about how the famous sprint race will unfold.

Big Mojo’s Big Form Pointer

From a starting price viewpoint, it could pay to look for a horse quoted on double-digit odds. Three recent winners, including 2024 scorer Mill Stream, were priced between 11/1 and 14/1. Big Mojo fits within that price range and has many other ticks in the ‘positive column’.

It should be noted that five of the past ten July Cup winners either won or made the frame in the Commonwealth Cup beforehand. As none of the placed runners in the Royal Ascot sprint contest Saturday’s race, attention turns to Big Mojo.

This three-year-old was beaten five lengths in the signpost Group 1 contest despite jumping right from the stalls and being denied a clear run a furlong from home. Possibly, the form-worth is every part as good as a placed effort, and Big Mojo can continue the success of other Commonwealth Cup graduates.

A starting stall in lane 9 is another bonus. Theoretically, it will allow jockey Tom Marquand to chart a course to either the nearside or far side of the racecourse – whichever the rider deems most favourable.

With the first three horses in the betting drawn in stalls 2, 4, and 5, Marquand may choose to steer clear of the principals who could become embroiled in a throat-slitting early-pace battle. Newmarket’s July Course is generally considered a front-runners track, meaning the race could be won or lost in the opening exchanges.

Photo of Roy Brindley, Author on Online-Casinos.com

Roy Brindley Author and Casino Analyst
About the Author
He firstly took up playing poker professionally - during which time he won two televised tournaments, became an author and commentated for many TV stations on their poker coverage. Concurrently he also penned columns in several newspapers, magazines and online publications. As a bonus he met his partner, who was a casino manager, along the way. They now have two children.

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