July Cup tips: Team split over a hot edition of the Group One sprint

Ahead of another fun-filled Saturday with quality racing, the Weekend Winners team discussed their best bets for the Newmarket feature.

The panel of Kate Tracey, Callum Helliwell and Declan Rix paid special attention to Newbury's feature event, Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes.

Commonwealth Cup heroine Venetian Sun features among four 2026 Royal Ascot winners who are set to clash in a hot renewal of the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday with Satono Reve out for a first taste of success on British soil.

Attheraces.com's Declan Rix…

"The bet for me is actually Big Mojo who was second in this race last year to No Half Measures and he was probably a little bit unlucky because they probably put a little bit too much water on overnight and it maybe just found him out.

"He's been in good order this year, on his season debut in the Minster Stakes, under a penalty, he ran a cracker, shaping like he needed the race, and at Royal Ascot he was just a little bit outpaced, in top gear the whole way but he was doing all of his best work late.

"Arguably, his career-best effort was in this race last year and we shouldn't underplay how different the July course is to Ascot and it looks like [Big Mojo] is absolutely desperate for this step up in trip.

If Quinault and Big Mojo get a bit loose on the front-end and the stands' side rail is the place to be, I'm hoping the latter can finally get his revenge having been touched off last year."

Host Kate Tracey…

"Venetian Sun for me. I was trying to take her on at Royal Ascot and she needed stoking up but she was always just doing enough to fend off challengers, including Spicy Marg, and we know she doesn't go down without a fight. I just feel that Venetian Sun would have found more and continued to power away.

"She's now six from six in sprints and I kind of wanted to see it at Royal Ascot and now that I have, I'm willing to follow that form in here and the weight that she is getting from her rivals is quite something."

Sky Sports Racing's Callum Helliwell…

"I cannot wait for Mission Central to absolutely gag up in this race. He cannot go to the Abbaye, he cannot go to the sprint at York because neither will suit a hold-up horse, this will suit him down to the ground because they are going to go like the clappers.

"I think Satono Reve ran below his form from last year at Royal Ascot, I think if he ran to form, he should have won that race. Joliestar turned out to be the jolly old boat. I just think that Mission Central was the most visually impressive performer at Royal Ascot. The concern is the form: I think I could run slightly faster than Heavenly Heather and she was quite close, but I think this thing is a freak. I still think we're underplaying him."

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