Notable Speech Cuts Back for July Cup

William Buick hopes Notable Speech (GB)'s high cruising speed will "give him every chance" when he drops to six furlongs for the first time in the July 12 July Cup Stakes (G1) at Newmarket Racecourse. A field of 15 sprinters will go to post for the group 1 on the Newmarket July course, with leading contenders Symbol of Honour (GB) and Flora of Bermuda (IRE) also among the final declarations. Godolphin's 2024 Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Notable Speech remains favorite for the race after connections supplemented him for £36,000 July 7. The Charlie Appleby-trained 4-year-old has raced exclusively over a mile in his 10-race career and his classic success was his only race at Newmarket, on the Rowley Mile rather than the July course. However, Buick is intrigued to see how the sudden drop in trip will pan out. Speaking at Newmarket before the first afternoon of the July festival got under way, he said: "He's only ever raced over a mile, but he's a high-class miler and a very speedy miler. I've always thought he could go back in trip to seven furlongs. "I know Charlie has earmarked the City of York Stakes at York for him as one of his possible targets and we won't know about dropping back to six furlongs until we try. I think it's worth a try. He's a horse with loads of speed and, if he can adapt to that early pace, he will be there with a good chance. "He was a bit unlucky at Royal Ascot (when fourth in the June 17 Queen Anne Stakes) where he was caught in a bit of a pocket and it was one of those races where you couldn't take much out of it. "This is a different thing for him, but if you go back to the Two Thousand Guineas that was a strongly run Guineas and he has a high cruising speed, so I hope he will give himself every chance." Two-time champion jockey Buick has partnered Symbol of Honour, another Godolphin entry, on his past six starts for four wins, including the Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) in May, but the choice over who to ride was a straightforward one. Oisin Murphy has been booked to ride the gray gelding. He added: "Symbol of Honour is building up a profile of his own but Notable Speech was the horse I was always going to ride." John and Thady Gosden's Spy Chief (GB) completes the Godolphin team and will be ridden by Robert Havlin. Aidan O'Brien has two contenders as he bids to become the outright winningmost trainer of the race with six winners. Whistlejacket (IRE), who won the July Stakes (G2) over the course and distance at this meeting last season, will be ridden by Ryan Moore, while Ides of March (IRE) is partnered by Epsom Derby (G1)-winning jockey Wayne Lordan. Wathnan Racing look to build on a brilliant Royal Ascot with Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) third Flora of Bermuda one of three runners along with Rogue Lightning (IRE) and Night Raider (IRE). Inisherin (GB) was fifth when sent off the 11-8 July Cup favorite last season and features again for Kevin Ryan and Tom Eaves, with cheekpieces added for the first time. Believing (IRE) bids for a second win since being bought by Coolmore for 3 million guineas last December. She won the Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) at Meydan Racecourse in April but was midfield in the King Charles III Stakes (G1) on her domestic return for George Boughey. Billy Loughnane steps in for the ride on the final start of Believing's career.