The Bunbury Cup is a flat race open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres). The event is named in honour of Sir Charles Bunbury (1740–1821), who served as the Senior Steward of the Jockey Club. He introduced both of the Classics held at Newmarket, the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas.
The leading trainer in the Bunbury Cup over the last 20 renewals is Richard Fahey who has won the race 3 times. Those 3 winners came from Brae Hill (2011), Heavens Guest (2014) & Rene Mathis (2015). Another trainer who has recorded multiple wins in the Bunbury Cup is Richard Hannon (2 wins). Let’s take a look at the individual runners and assess their chances. Check out the best horse racing odds for my picks below.
Shining Blue
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Jockey: Rob Hornby
He made a winning seasonal reappearance at York beating Bopedro over this trip by four lengths. Upped in grade and trip last time over the same course and distance, he could offer no more in the closing stages as Chichester swept past. Now dropped back in distance and grade, he has to be feared despite his top weight. Saeed Bin Suroor has his team in excellent form and with quite a few of these out of form, he may well have the ability to last home. Ignore at your peril.
Awaal
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Has been placed in both the Lincoln and the Royal Hunt Cup on his last two starts so is well used to these big fields. Having had a two-month break prior to Royal Ascot, the four-year-old son of Lope De Vega finished four lengths behind Jimi Hendrix on his latest run. He is fully entitled to come on for that run and no surprise to see him right in the mix here particularly if the rains were to fall in time.
Gorak
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Ran a couple of fair races including when beaten by Jumby in a Group 3 at Haydock last month. Considering his price in the subsequent Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Witch Hunter he ran a fair race there too. As a result, he has been severely punished by the handicapper and has been raised nineteen pounds in the handicap. All ground comes alike to him as he has won on firm and soft going, but he looks fairly out of his depth here.
Bless Him
Trainer: David Simcock
Jockey: Callum Shepherd
Won this race last year and now comes back to defend his crown. Having tackled the Royal Hunt Cup last time around, this step back to seven furlongs should be far more appealing. He loves to hear his hooves rattle off the lightning-fast ground, so the quicker the going, the better his chances. His form coming into the race last year seemed a bit better though and he may have to settle for a more minor role this time.
Montassib
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: William Buick
Looked to have a very hard race in the Buckingham Palace Stakes where he finished right in the mid-pack. He did win over this course and distance prior to that last run, but maybe he is just now in the grip of the handicapper. He wouldn’t want the ground to be too quick and may well be suited by a smaller field. He has not won in a race with more than eleven runners in it which is slightly off-putting.
Accidental Agent
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton
Jockey: Mia Nicholls (3)
Is starting to look fairly well-handicapped on the best of his old form. He has been out in the wilderness since winning over the course and distance in April 2022 and a return to the only track that he has ever won at could well rejuvenate him. It does look a big ask given how far he was beaten in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. It looks like a big ask but foolish to discount him entirely.
Lethal Levi
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Still looks a little high in the weights and is better known as a consistent six-furlong sprinter. He was tried over this trip once before and was beaten fairly easily. Although he has hinted at a return to form in his most recent run, he is still seven pounds higher than his last win. He loves to hear his hooves rattle on fast ground, but his stamina is an obvious concern.
Biggles
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Was sent off as favourite for the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and ran a very good race in defeat beaten only four lengths. He is as tough as they come and remains completely unexposed. The slightly smaller field here should aid his cause and once again Ryan Moore finds himself in the saddle. He ran well here a couple of seasons ago where he found only one too strong. Likely to prove popular given his jockey booking and unlikely to be far away.
First Folio
Trainer: James Ferguson
Jockey: Adam Farragher (3)
Stamina limitations are likely to be brought to the fore here as this five-year-old has only ever won over six furlongs. His last two runs over that trip have left an awful lot to be desired and he really needs to up his game here. Despite Adam Farragher being booked to ride, the pair look sure to struggle to keep up with others considered specialists at the trip. Readily passed over.
Rainbow Fire
Trainer: Marco Botti
Jockey: Neil Callan
All three of his career wins have come at this trip, but something was clearly amiss when he finished some fifteen lengths behind Rebel Territory at Ascot in the Victoria Cup. Now that he has been freshened up following a two-month absence he could well be worth another chance. He has proven on multiple occasions that he can run extremely well after a break, so respected all the same.
Probe
Trainer: Jennie Candlish
Jockey: Trevor Whelan
Whilst he won over this trip a couple of years ago back in Ireland, this five-year-old gelding is more renowned to be a six-furlong specialist these days as he proved when landing the Howden Handicap here back in May. He was beaten out of sight at Royal Ascot behind Saint Lawrence in the Wokingham and looks out of his depth here.
Lir Speciale
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Has won twice at this trip in the past but only on the all-weather track at Kempton Park. It could well be that seven furlongs stretches him on this turf as he ran such a lifeless race at Royal Ascot last time. Regular pilot Ray Dawson is once again in the saddle but the pair look to have an uphill struggle on their hands off what is a career-high mark.
Streets Of Gold
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton
Jockey: Charles Bishop
Ran the race of his life when third in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and is the only three-year-old in this line-up and as a result gets weight from the majority of his rivals. This is a step down from the company he was keeping last time and he looks a massive threat to all here. He seems tailor-made for this kind of race at Newmarket racecourse and will be doing all of his best work in the closing stages.
Cruyff Turn
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Jockey: David Allen
Has an awful lot to find with the re-opposing Shining Blue who thumped him out of sight at York a couple of months ago. He did however make the most of a tumbling handicap mark to win his first race in eight starts last time. A hike up the handicap is certainly not in his favour nor either is the step up in grade. This looks like a daunting task.
Spangled Mac
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Seems pretty versatile regarding trip as he has won at both six and seven-furlongs in the past. He has run well in defeat in his last two races at Ascot in both the Buckingham Palace and the Wokingham Handicap within two days at the Royal Meeting. Five wins from thirteen starts shows that he certainly is aware of where the winning post is and despite likely to be a big price here he still warrants each-way consideration.
Ropey Guest
Trainer: George Margarson
Jockey: Sean Levey
Still well treated on the best of his old form, Ropey Guest has never performed to his true level when running at Ascot. It was therefore no surprise to see him finish down the field in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. A return to this track will likely see him perform a bit better but he has been here a dozen times before and has yet to get his head in front at this track. Could run a good race but is likely to be usurped in the closing stages.
The Gatekeeper
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Joe Fanning
Generally better at these trip nowadays and has tended to give his running more times than not this season. Proved his Buckingham Palace Stakes run to be all wrong when placed at Newcastle over this trip in a smaller field last time out. He wouldn’t want the ground to firm up too much and even a little rain could well see him put in an even better performance. He was successful over the course and distance back in April, but running in fields of this size seems to daunt him and he could well be one to avoid.
Snazzy Jazzy
Trainer: Laura Mullaney
Jockey: Lauren Coughlan (5)
Has not looked the same horse since winning a minor handicap at Hamilton Park last season. He is somewhat of a six-furlong specialist so a little confusing to see him appear in this race. He won a listed race in his prime but those good days are fading into insignificance now. A five-pound claimer on board means he has a featherweight but having even refused to race this season, this quirky character cannot be trusted.
Star Of Orion
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Star Of Orion absolutely loves this track and has finished runner-up on his last two starts here. He has also won over the course twice in the past at this trip and at six furlongs. He is well handicapped and gets in near the foot of the weights here. He is still only a five-year-old and everything looks in place for him to run a huge race once more now that he is reunited with Rossa Ryan.
Popmaster
Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Marco Ghiani
Popmaster hinted at a return to form in his last run and finished a decent second on a rare attempt at this trip at Newbury last time out. He has certainly slipped to a handy-looking mark but finds winning extremely hard to do at the best of times. He has not won any race since September 2021 and this step up in grade will hardly help resolve that issue.
Bet365 Bunbury Cup Betting Tips
This looks to be a competitive renewal of the Bunbury Cup but there are some runners in here who look to have a better advantage than others. Seven furlongs is a specialist distance and a few of these are completely unproven at the trip. You usually need to have been out racing within the previous thirty-five days to win this and the last two renewals on a similar surface have gone to the horse-drawn in stall three.
Awaal made his seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot and ran a tremendous race behind Jimi Hendrix in the Royal Hunt Cup. He is fully entitled to come on for that run and deserves his place near the head of the market. He stays further than this so expect him to be staying on past beaten horses at the business part of the race.
At the top of the weights, Shining Blue has maintained a good run of form this season and is probably a group horse masquerading in a handicap. Saeed Bin Suroor has his team in excellent form and a bold effort has to be on the cards.
Streets Of Gold has been progressing well and takes a step down in class here. As a three-year-old, he is handily weighted and looks like an exciting prospect for Eve Johnson Houghton.
Star Of Orion really handles this track well and has run so many good races here in the past that he too is hard to leave out of any equation.
Biggles also has Ryan Moore on board yet again and with him being so unexposed a big run could well be on the cards.
1. Awaal @ 7/1 with Bet365 bonus code
2. Streets Of Gold @ 8/1 with Bet365
3. Star of Orion @ 12/1 with William Hill promo code
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
