Newmarket July Festival Day 1 Tips
Newmarket’s July Festival is back on Thursday afternoon with a cracking seven-race card that includes plenty of Pattern action.
The Group 2 July Stakes and the Princess Of Wales’ Stakes are Thursday’s feature races with Group 1 fare to come later in the week.
We have selections and analysis for all seven races on Thursday including a couple of value picks at rewarding odds.
13:50 – Newmarket - Bahrain Trophy Stakes
The opener on the card features a few promising prospects, perhaps none more so than Scandinavia for the Ballydoyle team.
He was behind the re-opposing Further at Royal Ascot a few weeks ago but had a tough trip, unlike his rival who finished runner-up, and with a small field to face on a more galloping track this time, he’s taken to reverse the form.
Selection: Scandinavia
14:25 – Newmarket - Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes
It’s hard to rule out any of this six-runner field but a chance is taken on Jel Pepper for the Cole team.
The yard traditionally do very well with their juveniles and this son of Inns Of Court appears to have been underestimated in the market against some big stables despite bolting up in a Goodwood novice on his debut.
Selection: Jel Pepper
15:00 – Newmarket - Handicap
It often pays to be drawn high over six furlongs over this course and distance, particularly in this contest and one who ought to outrun his odds is Hallasan from stall 10.
He won last year’s valuable sales race at Doncaster over this sort of distance and added to his winning tally at Meydan over the winter; his recent stride data suggests he may benefit from a drop back in distance to sprinting today.
Selection: Hallasan
15:35 – Newmarket - Princess Of Wales's Stakes
Ghostwriter had Palladium in behind when finishing third at Royal Ascot last month and he’s taken to confirm the form having performed the best of those that were ridden close to a hot pace.
He has untapped potential at this sort of distance and is taken to go a couple of places better in a weaker race this time.
Selection: Ghostwriter
16:10 – Newmarket - British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes
There are a few well-bred newcomers in this field but they are going to have to go some if they are to get the better of the standard setter, Country Artiste.
She took giant strides from her debut when finishing runner-up at Newbury last time when she was chased down in the closing stages and with more to come for a trainer who excels with sprinters, she’s expected to be hard to pass.
Selection: Country Artiste
16:45 – Newmarket - Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes
A drop back in class may do the trick for King Of Cities who wasn’t disgraced in the French Derby last time out.
Beaten only four lengths that day when not seen to best effect (held up and never involved from a wide draw), he can get back on track here in receipt of weight from his main rival, Opera Ballo.
Selection: King Of Cities
17:20 – Newmarket - Handicap
Great Acclaim could be the way to go in the finale after a narrow miss on the July Course last time out.
He gave the impression he was firmly back in form that day and given that all of his best three-year-old form came over this trip, he ought to put up a bold show.
Selection: Great Acclaim
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation