Hot Streak faces Power test in Darley July cup

The Kevin Ryan-trained colt is one of Europe's top sprinters over five furlongs, but today he faces an extra furlong - and hot competition from the stablemates Slade Power and Sole Power, tough Aljamaaheer, American raider Undrafted and the three-year-olds Due Diligence from Ireland and Spain's Noozhoh Canarias.

Hot Streak finished third to Sole Power in Royal Ascot's Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes, and both horses have something to prove over the longer trip. Hot Streak's racing debut was over six furlongs, and he won that in style - albeit in maiden company - and he has good form on soft ground.

Slade Power is likely to start favourite, for his Royal Ascot win in the Gr.1 Golden Jubilee Stakes was over this trip and he had Due Diligence and Aljamaaheer behind in second and third.

A fascinating race is in prospect, and the winner will be well on the way to claiming the title of champion sprinter in Europe.

Jamie Spencer rides Hot Streak, while Ryan Moore has been booked to partner Qatar Racing's only other runner in Europe today, Flaming Spear in a maiden race at York (16.05).

An unraced colt by Lope De Vega and owned in partnership with Essafinaat, Flaming Spear was bought by David Redvers Bloodstock at this year's DBS Breeze-Up Sale in April for £260,000, and his homework at Kevin Ryan's yard suggests he could be a smart colt.

Britain's daily racing paper, the Racing Post, makes him 7/2 favourite in its SP forecast for the race, and points out that Ryan has won the last two runnings of today's race.

At Chester last night, Green Door ran a mighty race when trying to concede 14lb to odds-on favourite Peterkin in a handicap. The Olly Stevens-trained Green Door, who races for Pearl Bloodstock and Mrs John Redvers, was beaten just a neck, and both horses ran inside Chester's five-furlongs track record which had stood since 1964.