AJMAN BRIDGE may have had to settle for minor honours at Royal Ascot last month but the Newmarket raider is fancied to gain rich compensation on Knavesmire today by securing the £150,000 John Smith's Cup.

The historic feature race has attracted a maximum field to York and looks to be ultra-competitive as usual. But Ajman Bridge, trained by Luca Cumani, looks to have an excellent chance of writing his name into the roll of honour.

On his latest start, the five-year-old failed by just half a length to get the better of Arab Dawn in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at the Royal meeting over a mile and a half.

He had previously finished third to Notarised over the same distance here at York, but he is equally adept over this shorter distance as he proved at Doncaster in April when a neck second to Razor Wind on his seasonal debut.

Adam Kirby takes the mount on Ajman Bridge, who faces a whole host of dangers – including a North Yorkshire team which includes Mark Johnston's talented pair, Fire Fighting and Sennockian Star, as well as Richard Fahey's Loving Spirit, stepping up in distance.

The £40,000 John Smith's Silver Cup sees ASTRONEREUS stepping up in trip but the task may not be beyond Amanda Perrett's useful colt.

Pat Dobbs takes the ride on the four-year-old, who finished third in Ajman Bridge's race at Royal Ascot. This extra two furlongs may bring out further in him.

The opening John Smith's Racing Handicap looks another tightly-knit affair and preference is for ALFRED HUTCHINSON, trained by Geoff Oldroyd at Brawby near Malton.

Winner of a similar race on this course in May, Alfred Hutchinson has twice run well on Knavesmire since, last time out being beaten by less than three lengths by Jallotta over seven furlongs. The return to a mile could well suit him.

Malton jockey George Chaloner has a strong chance of gaining Listed race glory on PIPERS NOTE in the John Smith's City Walls Stakes.

Trained by Richard Whitaker, Pipers Note has made rapid strides this season, winning three of his four starts and boosting his handicap rating north of 100.

He has more than earned his right to have a crack at this sort of company and, equally effective over five and six furlongs, is expected to make a bold bid.

The John Smith's Nursery Handicap could provide MR LUPTON with the chance to gain his second success of the campaign.

The Richard Fahey-trained juvenile broke his duck at Haydock last month and is open to further improvement. He looks fairly treated on his handicap bow and is awarded the nap vote.

The feature race at Newmarket's final day of the July Festival is the £500,000 Darley July Cup, in which Paul Hanagan has strong claims aboard MUHAARAR, trained by Charlie Hills.

The colt reverted to this distance of six furlongs in some style at Royal Ascot when winning the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup with authority.

He now tackles older rivals – including Australian speedster Brazen Beau, narrowly beaten in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, and David O'Meara's G Force, a Group 1 winner last season – but Muhaarar looks a sprinting star in the making and is expected to prove hard to beat.

Twelve months ago, HEAVEN'S GUEST won the £120,000 bet365 Bunbury Cup and it would be no great surprise to see Richard Fahey's tough and talented gelding complete a notable double in this heritage handicap.

Jack Garritty takes the mount on the Malton raider, a Listed winner in Ireland on his penultimate start and far from disgraced last time at York in a hot handicap.

Also worth noting at Newmarket are AIR VICE MARSHALL (2.35), a Royal Ascot winner last month, and his promising Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate BALLYDOYLE (4.20), who will relish the return to maiden company.