Superb 40-Strong Entry Left In Darley July Cup

A cracking total of 40 horses remain in the #360,000 Darley July Cup, the most valuable sprinting prize run in Europe, after the first forfeit stage.

The six-furlong contest, run on Friday, July 14, and the centrepiece of the three-day Ritz Club July Festival at Newmarket, has seen a number of international challengers in recent seasons, with Agnes World successful for Japan in 2000 and Australian sprinting sensation Choisir edged out by Oasis Dream in 2003.

A three-strong Australian entry this year is headed by the Joe Janiak-trained Takeover Target, a multiple Group One winner at Flemington and winner of the Group Two King´s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday. Compatriots Falkirk and Glamour Puss, who finished fourth and seventh respectively in the same Royal Ascot race, could reoppose.

Ireland´s champion trainer Aidan O´Brien, successful with Stravinsky in 1999 and Mozart two years later, has four to choose from. Ad Valorem, who landed the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday, could be joined by stablemates Ivan Denisovich and Marcus Andronicus, third and fourth respectively in the Group One St James´s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and Beauty Bright.

Godolphin has yet to add the Darley July Cup to its impressive list of Group One wins but looks to have a strong candidate this year in Iffraaj. The son of Zafonic enetred in Saturday´s Golden Jubilee Stakes, was a progressive performer last season when trained by Michael Jarvis, landing the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot at York and the Group Two GNER Park Stakes at Doncaster.

Sir Michael Stoute is the most successful current trainer in the Darley July Cup, with three wins courtesy of Marwell (1981), Green Desert (1986) and Ajdal (1987). He could be represented this year by Tawaassol, a lightly-raced three-year-old who ran well when second to Prince Tamino in the William Hill Trophy at York last time.

Having hit the bullseye with Continent in 2002, David Nicholls has four entries this year. French Group Two winner Moss Vale and Stewards´ Cup hero Gift Horse could be joined by both Tax Free and Strike Up The Band.

Other fascinating contenders include Amadeus Wolf, trained by Kevin Ryan, who took the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last season and appeared not to get home in the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last time out, and Soldier´s Tale, fourth in the 2005 Darley July Cup for Jeremy Noseda, who could also run La Chunga.

Etlaala, a three-time winner this year, could turn out for Barry Hills, along with stablemate La Cucaracha, who took the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York last year and finished ninth on her seasonal reappearance in the King´s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Richard Hannon, who landed the prize in 1992 with Mr Brooks, has Asset entered this year, while John Gosden, who sent out Oasis Dream to victory in 2003, has Murfreesboro and Racer Forever to consider for this year´s renewal.

The #360,000 Darley July Cup is Europe´s richest sprint and the highlight of the three-day Ritz Club July Festival, which is also supported by Jaeger, and runs from Wednesday, July 12 through to Friday, July 14.