Top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has built up a stack of horse racing records over the years and this weekend he can add another if he wins the Newmarket July Cup on Saturday.
Aidan O’Brien Needs Just One More Newmarket July Cup Win To Become The Winning-Most Trainer (on his own)
The Newmarket July Cup is the big Group One race at horse racing’s HQ this Saturday.
With £372,585 to the winner, the prize is not to be sniffed at – which is why over the years many top trainers have targeted the race.
Since 2005, Hughie Morrison and Clive Cox has both fired in two Newmarket July Cup wins, while 12 months ago Jane Chapple-Hyam landed her first when Mill Stream proved the quickest over the 6f trip.
However, it’s that man again Aidan O’Brien, who is currently topping the tree as the joint winning-most trainer in the race’s long 148-year history.
O’Brien has sent out five Newmarket July Cup winners to date – the same as trainers Charles Morton, who won his haul in the early 1900’s, and the legendary Vincent O’Brien with a handful of wins between 1973 and 1990.
All this means that Aidan O’Brien could become the July Cup’s winning-most trainer on Saturday (in his own right), if he can find winner number six in the big Group One Newmarket contest.
Aidan O’Brien’s Newmarket July Cup Wins
- Stravinsky (1999)
- Mozart (2001)
- Starspangledbanner (2010)
- U S Navy Flag (2018)
- Ten Sovereigns (2019)
Who Will Aidan O’Brien Run In The 2025 Newmarket July Cup?
Many are suggesting the 2025 running isn’t a vintage renewal – and it’s easy to see why.
Last year’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech was supplemented for the July Cup earlier this week. He’s been installed as the favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – but will he be as good down in trip?
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes third Flora Of Bermuda is a player too. However, with just one win from her last eleven races – this would be a concern.
All this means the race could be there for any horse to win – including the possible Aidan O’Brien July Cup runners, WHISLTEJACKET and IDES OF MARCH.
Of the two, Ryan Moore has picked Whistlejacket – no shock here.
But despite running only 6th last time at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, the horse meant some traffic in-running and stayed on well at the finish (watch below).
Whistlejacket Was Aidan O’Brien’s Only Newmarket July Festival Winner In 2024
If you are siding with Whistlejacket, the other big plus is that he was a winner at the Newmarket July Festival last. When winning the 2024 July Stakes (see below).
In fact, Whistlejacket was Aidan O’Brien’s ONLY winner at the meeting 12 months ago.
Being a 3 year-old the horse will also get 6lbs off Notable Speech and 3lbs from Flora Of Bermuda.
At the moment Whistlejacket is around 7/1 with the best betting sites in the UK – but with Ryan Moore now confirmed as riding, this price could easily vanish.
Whistlejacket will be trying to become the first July Stakes winner to follow-up in the Newmarket July Cup since Green Desert in 1985/86.
The other Aidan O’Brien Newmarket July Festival runner in the race could be Ides Of March. Who might not be the worst 50/1 shot in the world.
He was only 1/2 a length off Whistlejacket at Navan back in April and ran another July Cup runner – Symbol Of Honour – to 1 3/4 lengths at Newbury in May.
If one of the two win for O’Brien – then he can then claim to be the best July Cup trainer.
WATCH: Whistlejacket Winning The 2024 July Stakes
July Cup Runners and Latest Betting Odds
- Notable Speech 3/1
- Flora Of Bermuda 5/1
- Whistlejacket 7/1
- Symbol Of Honour 7/1
- Inisherin 7/1
- Believing 8/1
- Big Mojo 14/1
- Spy Chief 20/1
- Iberian 25/1
- Jasour 25/1
- Night Raider 25/1
- Rogue Lightning 40/1
- Ides Of March 50/1
- No Half Measures 50/1
- Run To Freedom 66/1
- Twilight Calls 100/1
Note: The final July Cup runners will be out on Thursday 10th July – plus odds are subject to change
Newmarket July Cup 2025 Race Details
📅Date: Saturday 12th July 2025
⌚Time: 4:35pm
🏃Trip: 6f
🏆Grade: Group One
🏇Racecourse: Newmarket
💷Winner: £372,585
📺 TV: RacingTV / ITV Racing
