The bet365 Bunbury Cup is once again set to provide one of the highlights of the three-day Moët and Chandon July Festival after a very strong entry of 81 horses remained engaged in this historic £120,000 contest at Tuesday’s scratching stage.
Run over the straight seven furlongs of Newmarket’s Adnams July Course on Saturday, 15th July, this historic handicap has a maximum field size of 20 runners. Entries that just miss out have the opportunity to take part in the consolation race, the £50,000 bet365 Handicap (Silver Bunbury), run over the same course and distance 24 hours earlier.
The ante post favourite for a race which always attracts huge betting turnover is the William Haggas-trained Fastnet Tempest, winner of the Victoria Cup back in May and denied a clear passage when ninth in the Royal Hunt Cup on his latest outing.
Other leading candidates are the Saeed bin Suroor duo of Arabian Hope – unbeaten in three starts this term including a York Listed event last time out – and the Wokingham Handicap runner-up, Steady Pace. The weights are headed by another Listed race scorer, Tabarrak, one of six entries trained by Richard Hannon.
Roger Charlton also has a strong hand. His three representatives are last year’s Balmoral Handicap hero, Yuften; the Wokingham third, Projection; and Makzeem, half-brother to the yard’s multiple Group 1 winner, Al Kazeem.
“Yuften is a possible runner in the bet365 Bunbury Cup, while Makzeem would need a lot to come out to get in and Projection is more likely to stay at six furlongs and go for the Stewards Cup.”
“I was disappointed with Yuften’s run in the Hunt Cup. He was drawn on the wrong side and then he needs both cover and a strong pace and he didn’t get either. That was over a mile but there is no reason why the stiff seven furlongs of the July Course won’t suit him.”
“Makzeem runs at the July Course this afternoon (Thursday), so we will see how he gets on – the soft ground there may not be ideal.”
“He has been running over a mile and a mile and a quarter and I am quietly hopeful that this drop back in trip could bring about an improvement in his form. If he misses the cut for the main race, I would consider running him in the Silver Bunbury the previous day.”
Pat Cooney, Racing Public Relations Officer for bet365, said:
“It promises to be another very competitive renewal, and we feel that the William Haggas-trained Fastnet Tempest looks a worthy favourite particularly after his unlucky run in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.”
“That said, it’s easy to make a case for another dozen or so others at present, so we expect to see many others well supported in what should be a thrilling finish!”
The sponsor’s ante post market for the bet365 Bunbury Cup, run over seven furlongs of Newmarket’s Adnams July Course on Saturday, 15th July, is as follows:
9 Fastnet Tempest;
14 Projection, George William;
16 Yuften, Steady Pace, Arabian Hope;
20 Oh This Is Us, Remarkable, Mutawathea, Flaming Spear, Abe Lincoln, Fawaareq;
25 Tashweeq, Tabarrak, Aeolus, Donncha, Rusumaat, Gossiping, Heaven's Guest, Shaiyem, Parfait;
33 Buckstay, Donjuan Triumphant, Bossy Guest, Johnny Barnes, Above The Rest, Top Score, Get Knotted;
40 Tony Curtis, Early Morning, Sutter County, Belgian Bill, Big Time, Sir Dancealot, Murad Khan, Withernsea, Kadrizzi, Suzi's Connoisseur, Gunmetal, Robero, Gin In The Inn, Safe Voyage, Makzeem;
50 Boomshackerlacker, Raising Sand, Mount Tahan, Swift Approval, Realize, Miracle of Medinah, Charles Molson, War Glory, Reputation, Stamp Hill, Havre de Paix, Penwortham, Burnt Sugar, Dutch Uncle, Shady McCoy, Gothic Empire, Nicholas T, Black Bess, Summer Chorus, Ice Age, Keyser Soze, Carolinae;
66 Von Blucher, Accession, Summer Icon, Holiday Magic, Brigliadoro, Lefortovo, Moonlightnavigator, Majestic Moon, Accidental Agent, Fox Trotter, Fiftyshadesofgrey;
80 Outer Space, Ripoll;
100 Pearl Spectre, Tommy G, Funding Deficit.
Each way 1/4 odds, 1-2-3-4
