Cross carries Irish hopes in July Stakes Intelligence Cross will be the sole Irish representative in Thursday's Arqana July Stakes at Newmarket. Aidan O'Brien's son of War Front opened his account with a stylish success at the Curragh last month and will face nine rivals in the six furlong Group Two event. Hopes are high in the Ardad camp following his impressive triumph in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. The John Gosden-trained youngster now faces an even stiffer task but all the signs at home are that he has come on again. "He was very impressive at Ascot and I've seen him on the gallops since and he looks to have improved again," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah. "There's no doubt he's an improving horse. "He must go there with a great chance of remaining unbeaten. "At Yarmouth the ground was quick and it was soft at Ascot so he's versatile regarding ground. "Originally we thought he'd be a seven-furlong horse but he's shown so much speed over five that six might be as far as he wants for now." At the head of the betting with Ardad is Richard Hannon's Mehmas, second only to 2000 Guineas favourite Caravaggio in the Coventry Stakes. Hannon told his website: "Mehmas has come through really well from his run in the Coventry. "He will be suited by the better going and having pulled so far ahead of the rest at Ascot, he should be hard to beat here." Another unbeaten youngster is Kevin Ryan's Broken Stones, hugely impressive on debut at York but forced to miss Ascot with a minor setback. "He did everything wrong and still won and won well at York," said Ryan. "This is a step up, but he'll have learnt from that first experience and he's a horse we've always liked." Andrew Balding's Bohemian Flame also missed Ascot to wait for this having finished third in Listed company at Sandown. "He's been tissued up at 33-1 and wasn't beaten far by Mehmas in the National Stakes," said Sam Hoskins of owners Kennet Valley Stud. "We wouldn't be going there if we thought he was going to be totally outclassed. He was 25-1 for the National Stakes and is 33-1 this time. "It looks a really good race but he's a nice horse and deserves his chance, so we'll see how we go." Saeed bin Suroor's Silver Line also brings Royal Ascot form to the table having been third in the Norfolk Stakes to Prince of Lir. "He's doing really well, is working really nicely and is in good form," Bin Suroor told At The Races. "The horse has improved from Ascot and I'm really happy with him. "I think the trip will suit him and I want to see a good run." Mark Johnston runs two nice colts, the unbeaten Love Dream and Yalta, while also down from the north is Karl Burke's Medici Banchiere, a 10-length winner last time out. Charlie Hills runs Barrington.
