Top contenders remain in Darley July Cup

All the leading contenders have stood their ground at the final declaration stage, leaving a field of 14 for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket tomorrow.

Aidan O’Brien’s Landseer and Mark Prescott’s Danehurst are vying for favouritism in the Group One feature.

Landseer is coming back in trip after his victory in the French 2000 Guineas and second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at a mile, while Danehurst bids to go one better than her second to Malhub in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

She is set to meet that John Gosden-trained rival once again after the son of Kingmambo was supplemented for the £220,000 (€343,000) contest but connections of Malhub have warned this morning that their colt "will not run if the ground softens".

O’Brien, as is customary these days, will have more than one runner as he also saddles Juniper and Sahara Desert.

Godolphin also have two representatives in the shape of Three Points, the mount of Frankie Dettori, and Meshaheer.

David Nicholls has few peers when it comes to handling sprinters in handicap company and his two speed merchants Bahamian Pirate and Continent give him the chance of landing the big prize at Headquarters.

Another supplemented runner, the Michael Jarvis-trained Millennium Dragon, takes his chance.

The field is completed by Michael Stoute’s Misraah, Richard Hannon’s Reel Buddy, Nerys Dutfield’s Misty Eyed, and Brian Meehan’s Twilight Blues.