Racing by Tom O'Ryan

Diktat, unbeaten in three starts this season, can prove himself a top-flight colt by extending his winning sequence to four in the feature race at Newmarket tomorrow.

The David Loder-trained three-year-old bids for the £150,000 Darley July Cup and, despite dropping back to six furlongs, is expected to show his rivals a clean pair of heels in the hands of French ace Olivier Perslier, this year's Derby-winning jockey.

Diktat has gained all his three wins this season over seven furlongs, the latest, and most important, coming in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot where he beat Bold Edge by a convincing two lengths.

The speed he displayed that day left the impression that reverting back to six furlongs would hold no fears for him and Diktat, tackling older rivals for the first time tomorrow, is expected to take all the beating.

Among the formidable opposition is Bolshoi, winner of the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and now stepping up from five furlongs, and local hope Bollin Joanne, a bitter disappointment in the King's Stand having previously landed the Duke of York Stakes on Knavesmire in May.

Trainer Tim Easterby, whose Pipalong finished a gallant second in yesterday's Cherry Hinton Stakes, has booked Jimmy Fortune to partner Bollin Joanne in place of the suspended Kieren Fallon.

The Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup is, typically, a wide-open event, but nap selection Chewit looks sure to give supporters a good run for their money.

Gary Moore's tough gelding ran a blinder to finish fourth of 29 to Selhurstpark Flyer in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot, beaten only a length from a poor draw.

Stepping back up to his best distance of seven furlongs tomorrow, and with the in-form Walter Swinburn back in the saddle, Chewit makes plenty of appeal in a tough race.

Henry Cecil can lift the opening honours with Capri in the Bahrain Trophy over one mile and seven furlongs.

Winner of his first two races this season, Capri has since twice run well in defeat. At York in May he finished a respectable runner-up to Greek Dance in the Glasgow Stakes and last month at Royal Ascot he was beaten little more than one and a half lengths into third by Maridpour in the Queen's Vase. He can get back on top here.

Mythical Girl (2-35) has been pleasing in her home-work at David Loder's yard, and is well worth watching out for on her public debut under Frankie Dettori, who can also score on Rhapsodist (4-10) and Plan B (4-45).

Rhapsodist got off the mark in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks a colt of immense potential, while Plan-B beat 30 rivals at the same meeting in the Britannia Handicap, and is a colt still very much on the upgrade.

At Southwell tomorrow, make a note of Hit The Spot (2-15), Hyphen (3-50) and Trina's Pet (4-20), who are fancied to provide the evergreen George Duffield - riding as well as ever this season - with a treble.

Kilimanjaro, the one-time ante-post favourite for this year's Vodafone Derby, has been retired.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he was found to be injured after his latest race at Royal Ascot, where he beat all bar favourite Royal Anthem in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes.

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