With the summer here, excitement is building for one of the highlights of the flat racing season—the July Festival.
While it’s not on the same pedestal as the Derby or Royal Ascot, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes at Newmarket to make the meeting a fan favourite – with the weather often playing ball for racing goers in the middle of July.
The Group 1 July Cup is the crown jewel of the festival. A six-furlong sprint for horses aged three and older, the race consistently draws elite sprinters from the UK and Ireland.
For punters keeping a close eye on horse race betting markets, last year’s top juvenile Shadow Of Light leads the ante-post lists, with potential challenges from Inisherin, Babouche, and Symbol Of Honour.
To understand what it takes to win this prestigious race, here’s a look at the last five horses to have landed the July Cup.
2024: Mill Stream
Ridden by William Buick and trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, Mill Stream caused a stir in last year’s renewal, winning at odds of 11/1.
Always travelling nicely, he hit the front inside the final furlong and just held off the late charge of 22/1 outsider Swingalong by a neck.
It was a second Group 1 success in Britain for Australian Chapple-Hyam, and a look time coming after he first with Saffron Beach in the 2022 Sun Chariot Stakes.
2023: Shaquille
Now a household name thanks to his exploits in top races, Irish jockey Rossa Ryan earned his maiden Group 1 success aboard Shaquille in 2023.
Trained by Julie Camacho, the three-year-old went off the 5/2 joint-favourite and justified the market support with a powerful finish.
He crossed the line a length and a half ahead of 28/1 surprise package Run To Freedom, with crowd favourite Kinross in third.
2022: Alcohol Free
Already a Group 1 winner at a mile, Alcohol Free proved his versatility by dropping back in trip to land the July Cup under Rob Hornby.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the son of No Nay Never matched strides with Naval Crown at the furlong pole before asserting in the closing stages to win by a length and a half.
It was Balding’s first win in the race, and the first part of a Group 1 double at the July Festival for rider Hornby, who hasn’t scored at the top level in Britain since.
2021: Starman
After impressing in the Duke of York Stakes earlier that year, Starman brought strong credentials into the July Cup and didn’t disappoint.
Tom Marquand, back aboard after Oisin Murphy had ridden him on reappearance, showed great composure to manoeuvre the Ed Walker-trained sprinter into a winning position.
Once in the clear, he showed an excellent turn of foot to win comfortably, marking a major milestone for both jockey and trainer.
2020: Oxted
The first big win for Cieren Fallon, the son of the legendary Kieran Fallon, Oxted decisively landed the 2020 July Cup.
Following a victory in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes on the Rowley Mile, the Roger Teal-trained four-year-old stepped up in class and delivered.
Sent off 12/1, he quickened nicely when asked and powered to line for a breakthrough Group 1 success.
