Daughter Of No Nay Never Back To Brilliant Best In July Cup

Alcohol Free (4f No Nay Never - Plying, by Hard Spun) showcased her brilliant versatility when recording her fourth Group 1 victory in Saturday’s July Cup at Newmarket.

Andrew Balding’s charge gained her first top-level success as a juvenile over six furlongs and went on to land two Group 1 contests over a mile as a three-year-old. She made a promising return to sprint distances at Royal Ascot last month and was once again ridden by Rob Hornby on Saturday.

Racing in mid-division, the Jeff Smith-owned bay was pushed along from two furlongs out and was ridden to lead entering the final furlong. Running on strongly, she scored by a length and a half to reverse the form with runner-up Naval Crown, while Australian raider Artorius ran on for third.

Andrew Balding later voiced the widely shared wonder at Alcohol Free’s versatility, and said, “Alcohol Free has now won four Group Ones - one at two, two at three and one at four - which is an unusual feat. She's a very talented filly and this is her time of year as well, she's twice the horse she was in the spring and it's just lovely to have her back on song.”

The daughter of No Nay Never will continue to demonstrate her talents over various distances, according to Balding. “I think she'll go to the Sussex Stakes next as it has always been the plan," he said. "She won it last year and the test of the mile there suits her really well. She's obviously a speed miler rather than an attritional miler.”

Alcohol Free was bred by Churchtown House Stud and is a half-sister to Stakes winner Alexander James (Camelot). She becomes No Nay Never’s second winner of the Group 1 July Cup, with Ten Sovereigns (No Nay Never) landing the 2019 running.