Clive Cox’s Harry Angel wins the Darley July Cup at Newmarket racecourse under jockey Adam Kirby
Jockey Adam Kirby refused to get involved in a pace battle with Intelligence Cross and that proved crucial as Harry Angel had plenty left to give in the final stages
HARRY ANGEL ran out a brilliant winner of the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
Clive Cox's three-year-old had ground to make up on the reopposing Caravaggio after the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but reversed the form in some style in the hands of Adam Kirby.
Harry Angel made a smart start and tracked Caravaggio's pacemaker Intelligence Cross for much of the six-furlong contest.
He hit the front inside the final furlongs and charged all the way to the line to score by a comprehensive length and a quarter from last year's winner Limato.
Caravaggio was narrowly beaten to third place by Brando.
Kirby said: "I've always had it in my mind he's the best. He'd have won last time, without a shadow of a doubt, but we were a little bit unfortunate with the way the race turned out.
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"I came back saying I should have won last time and it was in the bottom of my heart that today, he'd show them the way it was.
"To be fair to the horse, the race at Ascot really brought him forward and he's gone from a boy to a man.
"The race today couldn't have gone any better.
"He was pretty strong, but I got him half where I wanted him and then he quickened and showed how good he is.
"I can't express how good he is. I'm really excited. Thanks to everyone for letting me keep the ride on him, it means the world to me.
"I'm delighted for Clive as he's a top man and he's always stuck by me."