Limato can win July Cup - Saturday, July 9 preview

Limato, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, wins at the 2015 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster. He is napped to win the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. Phot: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Henry andy’s charge looked set to be a leading sprinter last term after winning each of his four outings over six furlongs as a juvenile before returning in 2015 with a bloodless success at Ascot in April.

He suffered a shock reverse when a short price at Haydock before bouncing back to chase home the brilliant Muhaarar in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Given that one’s subsequent efforts, there was little shame in Limato being beaten just under four lengths but Candy opted to avoid a rematch, instead preferring to step up to seven furlongs.

Limato handled the switch with aplomb when winning the Park Stakes at Doncaster last September and was at the very least unfortunate not to be closer when second in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc day.

Candy then threw another distance into the mix on Limato’s debut this term, stretching him out to a mile in the Lockinge and while it did not look as if he totally stayed when finishing fourth, Candy was far from convinced that was the case.

It would have been a mile again in the Queen Anne at Ascot but the ground intervened, as it did for plan B which was the Diamond Jubilee - won by stablemate Twilight Son, who also goes here.

Candy has been left with little alternative now at the top table other than to go back to six furlongs, but one thing we know is that he should come home as well as anything up the hill, and there will be no excuses on the ground front this time.

* Selections:

Newmarket: 2.15 Dabyah, 2.50 High Acclaim, 3.25 Hornsby, 4.00 Cunco, 4.35 LIMATO (NAP), 5.10 Growl, 5.45 Lord George.

York: 1.55 Timeless Flight, 2.25 Monotype, 3.00 Miss Van Gogh, 3.40 Quest For More, 4.15 Revolutionist, 4.50 Muthmir, 5.20 Franca Florio.

Ascot: 2.10 Geneva Convention, 2.45 Hoofalong, 3.15 Kodi Bear, 3.50 Syncopation, 4.25 Move Up, 5.00 Desert Haze, 5.35 Shabbah, 6.05 Frenchman.

Chester: 2.00 Full Intention, 2.30 Ballylare, 3.05 Sovereign Debt, 3.35 Go Far, 4.10 The Graduate, 4.45 Save The Bees, 5.15 Sunnua.

Hamilton: 6.15 Western Presence, 6.45 North Spirit, 7.15 Inexes, 7.45 Isharah, 8.15 Joyful Star, 8.45 My Lucille, 9.15 Lady Turpin.

Salisbury: 6.00 Salouen, 6.30 Inclination, 7.00 You’re Hired, 7.30 Bluff Crag, 8.00 Sark, 8.30 Red Rose Riot, 9.00 Malmoosa.

Double: Limato and Revolutionist.