July Cup: Shaquille and Kinross lead Newmarket betting

Murphy is suspended on Saturday while James Doyle, who rode him to two victories earlier in the season, is at Ascot, so Rossa Ryan comes in for the ride.

“Ascot was the first time he has started slowly in his life. He was first to load and had been sitting there a long time, so got a little bit impatient,” said Brown.

Little Big Bear on for rematch

Ryan Moore was briefly in the frame for the ride after Aidan O’Brien raised some doubt about Little Big Bear’s participation. However, the rematch was confirmed on Thursday morning at declaration time.

O’Brien stated at the time everything would have to continue to go in the right direction after he suffered a stone bruise last week, causing him to miss six days of exercise.

Speaking early on Friday afternoon O’Brien said: “At the moment everything is going well with him. It hasn’t been ideal, obviously, but we’re happy enough.

“He just missed five or six days last week and we won’t know until he runs how much it has affected him.”

The July Cup was the one Group One in the UK that Frankie Dettori was missing on his CV and in his final year, Ralph Beckett’s Kinross had been identified as his last chance to win it.

Unfortunately for him, the suspension picked up at Royal Ascot means he is unable to retire with a full set of top-level races and he has been replaced by William Buick, with Kinross now the 11/4 favourite in the July Cup 2023 betting odds.

Owner Marc Chan’s racing manager Jamie McCalmont said: “William (Buick) is a more than capable substitute, but it was something we were really looking forward to (with Dettori) and sadly it just wasn’t meant to be.

“If we can get some rain that would increase his chance for sure, it would make a bit of a difference, I think.

“It’s a solid race, there’s three-year-olds racing against six-year-olds and there are a number Group One winners in the race. It’s a solid field.”

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem represents Charlie Hills after being supplemented for the race on Monday, with Michael Dods’ Duke of York winner Azure Blue another of the leading contenders.

The nine-strong field is completed by Art Power, Emaraaty Ana, Run To Freedom and Vadream.

July Cup 2023 betting odds

11/4 Kinross

3/1 Shaquille

10/3 Azure Blue

4/1 Little Big Bear

14/1 Khaadem

20/1 Bar

View the latest horse racing odds

All odds and market correct at date of publication