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Advertise and Dream Of Dreams set for July Cup clash

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© Photo Healy Racing

Advertise heads a field of 12 as he attempts to follow up his Royal Ascot win in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.

Martyn Meade’s three-year-old put a disappointing 2000 Guineas run behind him with a clear-cut victory in the Commonwealth Cup last month — and has man-of-the-moment Frankie Dettori on his back once more this weekend.

Another Royal Ascot winner lining up is Roger Varian’s Cape Byron, who steps out of handicap company into the white hot heat of a Group One.

The son of Shamardal has enjoyed a lucrative campaign already, landing Ascot’s Victoria Cup before following up in the Wokingham.

“I thought he would nearly win the Victoria Cup and he did,” said Varian.

“If you watch that race, he tanks through the first two furlongs and thank God the field merged as he has no cover and he was almost doing too much. They couldn’t go quick enough for him and when the field merged he dropped his head and he quickened best of all.

“He won the Victoria Cup well, but he was hanging on at the end. You almost watch it wishing it was a six-and-a-half-furlong race.

“Mick Denaro, who rides him, mentioned that he thought the horse would go well over six furlongs. With his input and the way the Victoria Cup unfolded, he looked like a horse that would be just as comfortable if not more comfortable back down a furlong where the field was going quicker — and he proved that in the Wokingham.”

Sir Michael Stoute’s Dream Of Dreams almost denied Blue Point his famous Ascot double in the Diamond Jubilee when rattling home — and will have plenty of followers.

Limato and Brando, standing dishes in this race, are back for another go. Limato won the race three years ago, while Brando has been placed in the last two renewals.

Brando’s trainer Kevin Ryan also runs Major Jumbo, while Aidan O’Brien fields three in an attempt to keep hold of the prize he won last year with US Navy Flag.

Ten Sovereigns needs to bounce back after defeats in the Guineas and Commonwealth Cup, and is joined by Fairyland — who ran on to be fifth in the King’s Stand at Ascot — and So Perfect.

Michael Bell’s Pretty Pollyanna drops in trip after finishing only seventh in the Coronation Stakes.

Charlie Appleby runs Glorious Journey in the absence of the now-retired Blue Point while Lim’s Cruiser, eighth in the Diamond Jubilee, represents Singapore.