Can Caravaggio be beaten? Read what the trainers say about the July Cup

Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1) | 3yo+ | 6f | ITV/RUK

Caravaggio, regarded by Aidan O’Brien as the fastest horse he has trained, puts his unbeaten record on the line when he clashes with the older sprinters for the first time in Saturday's Darley July Cup.

In total O’Brien has sent out three winners of the Group 1 Newmarket event – Stravinsky and Mozart both won as three-year-olds in 1999 and 2001 – with his most recent winner Starspangledbanner scoring as a four-year-old 2010.

He reports dual Group 1-winner Caravaggio, who made it six from six when landing the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month, in good shape for today’s test.

He said yesterday: “We’ve been happy with Caravaggio since Ascot. It’s not that long ago and we haven’t asked him to do much since.

“He’s progressed with each run this year and he’s in good form. We knew after Ascot that the next step would be taking on the older horses and we’re hoping all goes well.”

Ryan Moore, who has been aboard for four of Caravaggio's wins, will be seeking his first July Cup.

Pros Unbeaten and showed his class when winning at Royal Ascot last time

Cons Faces his biggest test to date, meeting older horses for the first time

Bentley back after Limato's Dubai debacle

Harry Bentley must have thought his chance to ride Limato again had passed when he was dropped as the sprinter's regular partner after their Dubai debacle.

But thanks to Ryan Moore's association with Ballydoyle, opportunity knocks again for the jockey who returns and bids for a slice of history.

Not since Right Boy, under Lester Piggott, has a horse clinched back-to-back runnings of the prestigious sprint but after Limato produced a back to form effort at Royal Ascot, Bentley believes it is possible.

Limato put a heavy defeat in the Al Quoz Sprint behind him when finishing third in a rough climax to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, a neck and three quarters of a length behind The Tin Man and Tasleet, who oppose again.

Bentley said: "It looks like a very strong renewal. Last year everyone was saying how strong a race it was but this time you've got two really exciting three-year-olds in Caravaggio and Harry Angel. With such strong youngsters it is a different sort of race.

Limato: tore the field apart in last year's July CupCredit: Mark Cranham

"The Diamond Jubilee was really his first run of the season but it was still a very good run in defeat. He can definitely take a step forward and reverse the finishing order."

A year ago Limato put King's Stakes winner Profitable and Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection in their places but trainer Henry Candy said:

"It's a stronger race than it was last year. He has come on a little bit for Ascot. It's obviously pure guesswork but he seems fit and well now."

ProsCourse and distance winning form an advantage over rivals
ConsOnly third best at Ascot and may be better at seven furlongs

Tin Man out to shine on home turf

The Tin Man makes his Newmarket debut as he seeks to prove he is not merely an Ascot specialist.

The five-year-old recorded his third win at Ascot and second at Group 1 level when he landed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes last month.

Now he bids to become the first horse to pull off the Diamond Jubilee Stakes-July Cup double since Lethal Force in a race the stable captured 13 years ago with Frizzante.

The Tin Man will be the trainer's first July Cup runner since Society Rock made the last of three appearances in the race. Society Rock won the 2011 Diamond Jubilee but did not make it to Newmarket the same year. He finished second in the Royal Ascot sprint and July Cup in 2013.

Fanshawe said: "The Tin Man has come out of the Diamond Jubilee in good shape. The two Groups 1 wins have both been at Ascot but I am hopeful he will handle Newmarket. He has galloped on the Limekilns which have a dip and he seemed to handle that fine.

"Society Rock ran in both the Diamond Jubilee and July Cup. It is tough, they are only three weeks apart, but The Tin Man seems to have taken it well."

ProsHold up horse sure to benefit from furious pace
ConsExcels at Ascot, unproven at Newmarket

Harry has shot at revenge against Caravaggio

The quirky Harry Angel produced one of the best performances in defeat to lose out to Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup but has been given a shot at revenge in a highly anticipated rematch.

The way Caravaggio, Harry Angel and Blue Point pulled clear of the rest hinted the three-year-old sprinting crop could be a cut above this year.

But this will only be confirmed if the first two can hold their own in their first test against the older generation.

There was three quarters of a length between the first two at Ascot after Harry Angel, under Adam Kirby, had blazed off in front only giving way to his Ballydoyle rival in the final 100 yards.

Kirby is likely to try to do the same again, knowing what it takes to win at Ascot and Newmarket, having been aboard 2013 July Cup winner Lethal Force, trained by Clive Cox.

Cox said: “Harry Angel impressed me very much with the way he came out of the Commonwealth Cup and we are very much looking forward to running him again on Saturday.

"It was a great performance from Caravaggio at Ascot, but this is a different track and a different day. I am thrilled that Harry Angel is going to Newmarket in great nick and have been very pleased with him.”

ProsBlisteringly fast three-year-old with only three quarter of a length to find with Caravaggio
ConsSecond best at Ascot and may want quicker surface

Tasleet must overcome track concerns

William Haggas has grounds to believe Tasleet can turn the tables on his Diamond Jubilee conqueror if he can prove himself on the July course.

The colt, who has been reinvented as a sprinter, proved he was a top grade convert when going down by a neck to The Tin Man at Ascot, with Limato a place behind him.

He was also took a bump in one of two incidents of interference inside the final furlong involved the three protagonists which the stewards looked into.

Tasleet's challenge today is to adapt to the July course, a stiff track like the Rowley Mile where he was down the field in the Challenge Stakes and second in the 2015 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes.

Haggas said: "I have voiced concerns about the track already. I worry about the track and the ground combined but the horse is very well and we are very much looking forward to it.

"We had quite a wide draw at Ascot and possibly got a bit far back because of it. They all went for the far side. Jim tracked Limato and rode him to beat Limato, which he did, but unfortunately somebody beat him. This will be a good race."

ProsStill open to improvement after career best at Ascot
ConsTrainer unsure if Newmarket will suit

The rest of the field

Owing to a case of equine herpes virus at his yard Kevin Ryan was a no-show at Royal Ascot.

His yard was put under quarantine restrictions so he was denied the chance to run Brando in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Brando had been a commanding winner of the Abernant Stakes but finished last in the Duke Of York Stakes won by Tasleet, having burst a blood vessel.

Richard Fahey will not be bothered about saddling two outsiders in the field having landed the July Cup with the 20-1 Mayson five years ago.

Growl unseated his rider coming out of the stalls at Ascot and Mr Lupton has never won outside handicap company.

Fahey said: "I’m not worried about a repeat of the stalls problem for Growl, though he will use a rug in the stalls to keep him calm, just as he used to before he came to me.

"I would prefer slower ground for Growl as they are sure to go incredibly quick. Both my runners have small chances."

Intisaab was beaten a head in a Group 3 prize last time but appears to have a lot to do.

Trainer David O'Meara said: "He faces a tough challenge, but was most unlucky in the Chipchase at Newcastle last time out."