Newmarket July Festival Day 3 Tips
Billed as Super Saturday with a host of Flat meetings either side of the Irish Sea, the best of the action comes from Newmarket.
It’s the third and final day of the July Meeting and the Group 1 July Cup takes centre stage on Saturday afternoon.
We have selections and analysis for all seven races on Saturday’s card including some value selections at rewarding odds.
13:40 – Newmarket - Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes
There’s not much form to go on in the opener with a chance taken on Orion's Belt who shaped with a fair amount of promise on her debut at Salisbury.
She only faded late on in that contest and wasn’t beaten far. The money behind her that day suggested a big run was expected and Ryan Moore takes over for this contest. If she comes on for that run, it will take an above average newcomer to beat her.
Selection: Orion’s Belt
14:12 – Newmarket - Trustatrader 20th Anniversary Fillies' Handicap
Miss Nightfall could be a tough nut to crack after her respectable sixth at Royal Ascot.
She’s not had the clearest of runs in either start this season and she looks capable of getting her head in front from this sort of mark before a likely crack at Pattern company.
Selection: Miss Nightfall
14:50 – Newmarket - Bunbury Cup
A typically competitive renewal of the Bunbury Cup with a chance taken on Billyjoh for Mick Appleby.
He was in cracking form before a low-key effort at Royal Ascot but that’s a run worth forgiving having raced in a group of just three runners on an unfavoured part of the track and he’s still feasibly treated on the pick of last year’s form.
Selection: Billyjoh
15:25 – Newmarket - Mile Handicap
Godolphin have a strong hand with their trio of runners for this contest and the one that appeals most is Bedouin Prince after his impressive win on the Rowley Mile last time out.
There’s a chance of another uncontested lead in this field, he gets his ground again and it’s significant that William Buick takes the ride who is likely to have had the choice of their three representatives.
Selection: Bedouin Prince
16:00 – Newmarket - Superlative Stakes
This race has thrown up some very smart horses down the years, perhaps most notably City Of Troy in 2023 and Italy looks like a big player for the same connections on Saturday.
This colt was well backed for his debut at Leopardstown when getting the hang of things late in the day and this yard’s representatives often improve a bundle for their initial outing.
Selection: Italy
16:35 – Newmarket - Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes
While the feature race of the weekend lacks a superstar name, it certainly looks competitive but one that appears to have been underestimated in the market is Believing.
She gained a Group 1 success in the Al Quoz at Meydan in April and may have needed her first run off the plane at Royal Ascot when sent off favourite for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over 5f.
A low draw in stall one was against her that day and given that she’s in foal, there could still be improvement to come from her.
Selection: Believing
17:10 – Newmarket - Trustatrader Handicap
Asgard’s Captain had a rough trip in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle last time but he was in good form previously and he still looks feasibly treated from a mark of 90.
The drop back in distance will also be in his favour and this looks like a winnable race for the grade.
Selection: Asgard’s Captain
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation