Oasis Dream edged out Choisir by a length and a half

Australian challenger Choisir, who beat Oasis Dream into third place at the King's Stand Stakes at Ascot last month, made a superb start and led by a length or so early on.

But Oasis Dream recovered well from a poor draw with jockey Richard Hughes bringing his mount well across to a challenging position in the opening furlong.

The John Gosden-trained horse moved up to challenge in the last two furlongs and got to the front.

In the closing stages he looked the stronger to edge out Choisir and Johnny Murtagh by a length and a half.

Airwave, ridden by Kieren Fallon, who was beaten by Choisir in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, ran on well for third place.

My horse fought him all the way but just couldn't hold him off Choisir's jockey Johnny Murtagh

"The plan was to ride a positive race. I was pleased after four furlongs to see Richard had plenty of rein dangling, because I knew there was more to come," said Gosden.

"We had to ride an aggressive race so that when we attacked Choisir up the hill we only had two lengths to make up. There was no point in trying to come at him from six back, because he comes again."

Choisir's trainer Paul Perry was philosophical after his horse's defeat.

"He's been beaten by a horse that was trained for the race. The winner was on his way up, while we were probably just on the way down," he said.

"He's done the job he came here for and it was a very courageous effort to finish second in a race that was really just an afterthought."

Darley July CupNewmarket 6f
1 Oasis Dream (R Hughes) 9-2
2 Choisir (J Murtagh) 9-4f
3 Airwave (K Fallon) 11-4

Meanwhile the 4-1 favourite Patavellian, ridden by Steve Drowne, held off the challenge of last year's winner Mine by a short head to take the Bunbury Cup.

Patavellian set a blistering pace and was three or four lengths clear with around three furlongs to go.

But Mine, with Jamie Spencer aboard, staged a late comeback and almost caught Patavellian before the line but the leader emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins.