The July Festival at Newmarket is a meeting that is always well worth watching and it gets underway on the July course at HQ on Thursday. I put up Confiding for the July Stakes on the opening day in the hope that he would be declared but unfortunately, he won’t be taking his chance. It is not ideal to start off with a loser before the racing has even begun, but hopefully I can make up for it by finding a winner or two during the meeting. Read my preview and tips for the live races on ITV on Day 1 of the Newmarket July Festival below.
Race 1
The 13f Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes kicks off the action on Day 1 of the July Festival and eight horses will go to post. First Eleven caught the eye when staying on well for an unlucky 3rd in the King George V Stakes off a mark of 91 and the 3/1 favourite looks sure to benefit from the extra furlong here. Giuseppe Garibaldi drops in class and trip after a good 2nd in Group 2 company at the Curragh last time and he could make his presence felt for Ballydoyle at odds of 7/2.
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| Gerald Mosse could get a good tune out of Global Giant. |
However, the one I like at a nice price in this contest is the outsider of the field, Global Giant. This 3yo son of Shamardal has progressed with every run this season and I am of the opinion that this trip of 13f will bring out the best in him. He has stayed on well on his last two outings over 8f at Doncaster and 10f at Royal Ascot last time (career best) and on ratings he hasn’t got a huge amount to find with the principals. He is a previous course winner over 7f, he will relish the quick ground and at odds of 16/1 he is the each way selection.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: GLOBAL GIANT E/W @ 16/1
Race 2
The 2yo July Stakes is the second race of the July Festival and my ante-post selection Confiding wasn’t declared this morning. Martyn Meade obviously fancies the chances of his other entry Advertise, and the bookies have installed the son of Showcasing as the 5/2 favourite. He certainly brings the best form into the race having finished an excellent 2nd in the Coventry at Royal Ascot and if he puts up a similar performance here he is the one to beat. He is a worthy favourite.
The unknown quantity of the race is Legends Of War, a son of Scat Daddy who cost a pretty penny at the Breeze-Ups (900k). He made a big impression when spread-eagling the field in a 6f Yarmouth maiden on his debut and on a line through Leading Spirit he should have the measure of Dunkerron. However, at a nice each way price I think Konchek could be worth chancing each way. He has stayed on well over 5f on his last couple of starts, including in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and I think the step up to 6f could eke out some more improvement.
He scored here on the Rowley course on his debut over 5f and the way he powered up the hill, despite still being green, suggested that an extra furlong would pose no problems. The son of Lethal Force is related to plenty of winners from 6f to 8f so his pedigree suggests that the step up to 6f will suit too. His trainer Clive Cox does brilliantly with sprinters and while he will be disappointed that Harry Angel won’t be taking his chance in the July Stakes, Konchek could give him some compensation here and at odds of 12/1 he is the each way pick.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: KONCHEK E/W @ 12/1 NAP
Race 3
The first handicap of the week at the July Festival has attracted a maximum field of 20 3yos and this 6f contest looks wide open. It is 7/1 the field and in races of this nature I always favour taking a chance on one at a big price each way for small stakes. The one I am interested in at a monster price is the Mick Channon trained filly Tricksy Spirit, a daughter of Lethal Force. She has only finished out of the frame once at 5/6f on good to firm and that was in a Group 3 over 5f last time out.
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| Mick Channon has his string in fine form. |
Tricksy Spirit has been running over 5F in pattern company in recent starts and while her last couple of efforts haven’t been great she went very close in a Listed contest at Sandown three starts back. She stayed on well for 3rd on her last handicap outing off 10lb lower over 6f on soft at Goodwood but her very best form has come on quick ground. She beat Kimifive at Bath earlier this season in a handicap (5.5f gd/fm) by a short head and she is a pound better off with that rival now who is 16/1. The step back up in trip to 6f and return to handicap company could be just what she needs and I think she could outrun her odds of 50/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: TRICKSY SPIRIT E/W @ 50/1
Race 4
Eight horses have been declared for the 12f Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes and Mirage Dancer is the current market leader. This son of Frankel has failed to live up to his lofty reputation so far but he has shaped well on his last couple of starts and his form over 12f is strong. He stayed on well over 10f in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot and the step back up in trip will suit. However, he has come up short in Group company twice before and he has to prove he has what it takes to win at this level.
Muntahaa also ran in the Wolferton last time out and he also stayed on well, finishing two places ahead of Mirage Dancer in 3rd. Jim Crowley keeps the faith with Laraaib (9th in the Wolferton) but Dane O’Neill rode Muntahaa last time and I have huge respect for his ability as a jockey. Muntahaa flopped in this last year which is an obvious worry, but his last run was highly encouraging and back up in trip I think he holds solid each way claims at odds of 8/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: MUNTAHAA E/W @ 8/1 NB
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