O’Brien relies on Sir John Hawkins in July Stakes

Aidan O’Brien had several high-class colts entered for the Group 2 July Stakes and has elected to run Sir John Hawkins. The colt is beautifully bred by Henrythenavigator out of Peeping Fawn, both former stars at Ballydoyle.

He won his maiden race in good style at the Curragh before tackling the Group 1 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He looked to have every chance until stable companion War Command swept past him to win impressively.

Sir John Hawkins finished a creditable third and it will be interesting to see how the Coventry form stands up. There are several promising colts lined up here including the unbeaten Canyari and Figure Of Speech.

Canyari is trained by Richard Fahey who saddled Parbold to finish second in the Coventry. He won his only start at Doncaster by five lengths, although he only had two rivals on that occasion. Figure Of Speech slammed Whaleweigh Station by five lengths here and runs here in preference to a Conditions race on Saturday.

Kevin Ryan’s Astaire is also unbeaten after winning his only previous start at York in May. He had Mick Channon’s Jallota back in third that day and ought to confirm the form.

Richard Hannon is always a force to be reckoned with in these top two-year-old races and he saddles Anjaal and Brown Sugar. Anjaal ran very green on his debut but was much more streetwise at Beverley last time and is the mount of Paul Hanagan.

Richard Hughes rides Brown Sugar who strode clear impressively at Salisbury to win by five lengths. He had previously finished behind Jallota at Newmarket on his debut but was finishing well and may have improved sufficiently to beat that rival.

Intermath sprang a 33-1 surprise at Salisbury first time out but jinked and unseated his rider on a return visit to the same venue. The field is completed by Bahamian Heights and Master Carpenter, both of whom have raced four times and may struggle in this grade.