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Ryan Moore is expecting to see a better performance from River Tiber in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon.
Last year's Coventry Stakes hero has been campaigned over longer trips this season having finished third in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas before a disappointing effort in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
The son of Wootton Bassett will now return to six furlongs for the first time since finishing third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile last year and Moore, who has partnered River Tiber on both outings this season, is expecting an improved performance now back down in trip.
"Given the promise of his reappearance run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, you have to say he was well below par in the Jersey Stakes last time but he is a horse who has always shown a lot of pace, and hopefully, this test will suit him," Moore said on his Betfair column.
He added: "He's a Coventry winner, he went on to be placed in the Morny and Middle Park, and he has to have a fair chance in here if bringing his Classic form to the table. He certainly has the Group 1 class to go close."
Another horse who will be bidding to bounce back from a slightly underwhelming performance last-time-out is Vandeek, who suffered a first defeat when third behind the reopposing July Cup favourite Inisherin in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May.
The Simon and Ed Crsiford-trained contender was unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, which included top-level victories in the Prix Morny and Middle Park and although connections were keen to stress the importance of him settling in the early stages, they remain confident of an improved performance.
"He was just a bit fresh for the first 100 yards at Haydock," said Simon Crisford on Racing TV. "If we can get him in behind one, he'll drop the bit and switch off, but if he's seeing a lot of daylight that will not help because obviously with this being his second run of the year, he will be a bit fresh."
He added: "It's a very fine balance and you don't want to overwork him but obviously you don't want to turn up at the races too fresh. It's a very fine balance but we think we've got him right. He's bounced out of his slight abnormality (which ruled him out of the Commonwealth Cup) and we gave him some time off after that.
"His recent work has been excellent, and he's definitely trained on, there's no question about that. He's always trained like a very good horse and he's giving us the same signs as he did last year. From what we've seen at home, he's every bit as good as he was last year."
Vandeek is a 4/1 chance with Paddy Power as he bids to regain the winning thread on the biggest stage at Newmarket, while the same firm makes his Sandy Lane Stakes conqueror and impressive Commonwealth Cup scorer Inisherin their 7/4 favourite for the six-furlong Group 1 prize.
