Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.

CLIVE Cox and Adam Kirby are a formidable combination in the Darley July Cup and target a third victory in the valuable Group 1 with Golden Horde at Newmarket on Saturday.

Cox and Kirby combined to win the six-furlong contest with Lethal Force in 2013 and Harry Angel in 2017 and have a great chance of a hat-trick with Golden Horde who heads the betting at 9-4 (Ladbrokes).

Golden Horde has headed the betting for the race, which is broadcast live on ITV at 3.35pm, since his emphatic victory in the Group 1 Commonweatlh Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

The victory was even more impressive as it was his first run for 265 days and the three-year-old appears to be a worthy favourite for Saturday’s race where he faces a maximum of 12 rivals.

Cox spoke to the media in a Zoom conference organised by QIPCO British Champions Series on Wednesday and said: “It’s all about being in the right races with the right horses and I’m thrilled we have a horse of this calibre to follow in the same footsteps as the likes of Harry Angel and Lethal Force. 

“He really grew into his frame and strengthened from two to three and has been in great nick since Ascot.

“The fact we’ve got the Commonwealth Cup now is a huge plus as we didn’t really have any stepping-stones for the three-year-old generation prior to this.

“It shows Golden Horde is at the top of the tree as far as the three-year-old generation is concerned and I think the helpfulness of the weight-for-age scale, which is a tried and tested formula, is proving that they are a potent force at this particular stage.” 

Golden Horde made almost all the running in the Commonwealth Cup but Cox says that, tactically, he is versatile. “He’s pretty uncomplicated,” Cox added. “He can make his own running or take a lead. I don’t have any particular concerns on that score.

“The draw is always important wherever you are, but I would hope we could fathom our tactics out quite simply. I hope we don’t get too much rain, although he’s shown he can cope with ease in the ground.” 

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.