THE first duel between the classic crop and older horses went to the former last Saturday, when Paddington saw off Emily Upjohn in the Eclipse, and there is every chance the three-year-olds can strike again today, this time in the sprinting division in today’s July Cup (4.35). Maybe it is wrong to refer to three-year-old sprinters as representatives of the classic generation, given there is no classic race for them but, if there was one, it would surely be the Commonwealth Cup.

That six-furlong Group 1 has been a game changer and - coupled with an increasing demand for speed in the industry - the calibre of three-year-old that goes for this race seems to be getting stronger. They already held their own prior to the introduction of the six-furlong Group 1 at Royal Ascot but, since then, it has been the key contest for this race.

Muhaarar (won Commonwealth Cup), Harry Angel (second) and Ten Sovereigns (fourth) all won the July Cup on their next start while every three-year-old that has hit the frame here bar U S Navy Flag, raced in the Commonwealth Cup on their previous race.

Warm favourite

So it’s not a surprise that Shaquille is a warm favourite to continue the trend, especially when you take into account how impressive he was at Royal Ascot, starting slowly, but still able to reel in Little Big Bear, the banker of Royal Ascot for so many.

Tactics will be key, because previously Julie Camacho’s colt prospered by racing prominently. If breaking on terms, will they revert to that ploy or settle him in to come home well again? Plenty for Galway native Rossa Ryan to ponder.

Little Big Bear has quite a similar profile to Aidan O’Brien’s last winner of this race, Ten Sovereigns, but for the fact that he has had a setback coming into the race.

Chris Armstrong, speaking on behalf of Ballydoyle at Leopardstown on Thursday evening, issued of something of a warning when he said: “Obviously we’ve declared Little Big Bear but he has to keep progressing. All being well, he will, and he gets there at 100% but you’re not going to be able to tell how much missing five or six days of work has affected him.”

At the beginning of the week the chief threat for the older horses was Azure Blue, who claimed the notable scalp of Highfield Princess at York last month, but Michael Dods’s filly has been usurped in the market by Kinross, courtesy of significant rainfall on the course through Friday.

Ralph Beckett’s horse is a different proposition on soft ground. His record when the going description reads good to soft or softer is: 41415111191, compared to 89663268173 on ground described good or faster.

And what about the Platinum Jubilee winner Khaadem? The market is basically saying that 80/1 success was something of a fluke, which may be harsh, but it was a major upturn in his overall form on what was his 29th start.

THE bet365 Superlative Stakes (3.25) offers the first Group 2 option of the season over seven furlongs for juveniles and often proves a fine guide to the rest of the year and indeed next year’s classic crop.

In particular, Charlie Appleby and William Buick have won three of the previous five renewals, and all three (Quorto, Master Of The Seas and Native Trail) travelled over to take on the National Stakes on their next start - Quorto and Native Trail both scored.

Dubawi colt Great Truth, a five-and-a-half-length winner on his debut at Leicester, represents the pair today, but yesterday evening trailed Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy in the market.

The son of Justify looked smart when also winning on his debut, at the Curragh earlier this month, and looks towards the top of the try of the Ballydoyle juvenile prospects at this relatively early stage still.

Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a typical Justify, has a very good mind, very athletic, a very good mover. Ryan liked him a lot on his debut. He hasn’t much done since that but what he has done has been very nice.

“It will be nice to get him over there for the sake of travelling, experience wise it will bring him on. It does look a nice race for him.”

O’Brien also sends over Content for the opening maiden. The daughter of Galileo ran a fine race to be third on her debut before disappointing slightly in the Chesham, but Armstrong was willing to excuse that run.

“She was still a maiden when she went over to the Chesham and it was probably a slowly run race - she got trapped and didn’t have the best of luck,” he said.

“Her work has been nice at home since. The maiden presented itself on a nice card, she’s in good form and everyone is happy to let her take her chance.”