William Haggas is set to send Almeraq and Division into Saturday’s July Cup at Newmarket as the Somerville Lodge trainer chases a first win in the Group One sprint.
A four way photo finish to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes but it's the unexposed #Almeraq who gets up on the line under @TomMarquand. The @ShadwellFarm colt is cut into 8/1 for the July Cup.
— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) June 20, 2026
The plan, reported by Racing Post ahead of the Newmarket July meeting, gives Haggas two live routes into one of the summer’s defining six-furlong races.
Almeraq brings the headline profile after his Royal Ascot breakthrough in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, where he confirmed himself as a top-level sprinter for Shadwell and Tom Marquand. The key line from the Haggas camp is that he is expected to be sharper again at Newmarket, an ominous update for rivals after a lightly raced horse won at Ascot despite still having scope to tighten up.
Why Almeraq matters at Newmarket
The July Cup asks a different question from Ascot. Newmarket’s July Course can reward pace, balance and the ability to travel under pressure, so Almeraq’s profile is not simply about reproducing his Royal Ascot form.
Division gives Haggas further depth in a race that often turns on draw, tempo and ground by the weekend. For a trainer still seeking his first July Cup, the double-handed approach matters: Almeraq supplies proven Group One class, while Division adds tactical cover if the race shape changes.
With the sprint division still sorting itself out after Ascot, Newmarket now becomes the next test of whether Almeraq is merely the latest major winner or the horse about to take control of the six-furlong scene.
