DAVID MARNANE’S classy six-year-old stable star Dandy Boy was added to the field for tomorrow’s Darley July Cup at a cost of £30,000.
But the surprise absentee from the line-up was the O’Brien-handled Excelebration, who was the most notable defector earlier in the week.
 The other supplementary was made by Richard Hannon, who added his highly talented colt, Strong Suit, to the field as he prepares to drop back in trip after finishing a poor 10th behind the mighty Frankel in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
 Dandy Boy travels to Newmarket on the back of a career best performance to win the Wokingham on the final day of the Royal meeting in June, in a time which was almost a quarter of a second quicker than Black Caviar over the same course and distance on the same day.
 Marnane reported: “He pleased us going into Ascot and has pleased us as much, if not more, since coming out of Ascot.”
 The Bansha handler added: “We sat down and had a good chat. He won well at Ascot and we decided to take our chance.”
He’s been a phenomenal horse for us and to win a third big handicap like that in the manner he did shows what a good horse he is on his day.”
 Marnane admitted: “The ground was just good at Ascot, it was touch and go whether he would run because of softer ground, but he’s a little bit older now and he is fragile, so maybe he enjoys a bit of an ease in the ground now.
“He’s a fragile horse and when they are right and well you have to take your chance.
“I think he moved better at Ascot on the slightly easier surface.”
 Bated Breath, is the current favourite and he was also second in the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot this year.
 The Timeform ratings for the race make Strong Suit head of the runners on 140, with Sepoy next best on 138 and Bated Breath on 135.
Bated Breath remains on course to bid for an elusive first Group One prize in the July Cup.
 The five-year-old was narrowly denied by Dream Ahead in this race last term and subsequently went close in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park and a Grade One in America.
Roger Charlton’s speedster made a magnificent return to action when breaking the five-furlong course record in Haydock’s Temple Stakes and was second to Hong Kong contender Little Bridge in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Said Charlton: “We are heading to the July Cup with Bated Breath. He has come out of his race at Royal Ascot in good form. He is a very consistent horse and ran right up to his best in the King’s Stand on ground that wasn’t ideal. “He has run over five furlongs this year, but I think the step back up to six furlongs will suit him.”
Meanwhile, in-form jockey, William Buick, will take the ride on ace Australian sprinter Ortensia in the contest.
 Buick, like his employer John Gosden, has been in superb form this season, and the duo landed the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday last.
 The Paul Messara handled Ortensia won the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on World Cup night and was ninth in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, being ridden by Craig Williams on both occasions.
Said Gosden: “It looks like William will be riding Ortensia in the July Cup, which is exciting for him.”
 Messara felt Ortensia’s performance at Royal Ascot could be put down to getting worked up before the race and he’s expecting a much better performance.
 “Prior to the King’s Stand she didn’t seem to handle the environment. She got upset in the pre-parade ring and broke out into quite a big sweat,” he stated during the week.
“By the time of the race she was very revved up and agitated and had run her race before she had even got there.” Messara added: “She ran an average race and pulled up with a sore back, but everything’s settled down now.”