Alcohol Free provides shock at Newmarket to Take Darley July Cup

Alcohol free provided a shock at Newmarket to defeat strong opposition and take the 2022 Darley July Cup.

Rob Hornby made it a weekend to remember adding this success in the Darley July Cup to his brilliant performing riding 16-1 Prosperous Voyage and beat 1-7 favourite Inspiral in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes.

Alcohol Free, a dual Group One winner at a mile last season, was ninth in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month on her first start at six furlongs since her two-year-old days.

Several of the sprinters that finished in front of her that day were running again at Newmarket, but the 14-1 chance coped much better with the strong six-furlong pace.

Sitting behind the front-running Naval Crown, Rob Hornby sent her to the front inside the final quarter.

 Alcohol Free finished well to beat Naval Crown into second place with Artorius, the Australian-trained challenger, staying on from off the pace to finish third.

Andrew Balding’s filly biggest previous wins have been at Goodwood in the Qatar Sussex Stakes and at Ascot in the Coronation Stakes.