A fascinating renewal of the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes takes place on day two of Newmarket’s July Festival on Friday 10th July. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old sensation Precise bids for another top-class prize to add to her glittering CV, but she will come up against a rapidly-improving four-year-old in the shape of Blue Bolt for Andrew Balding.

Steve Chambers previews Friday’s showpiece race and picks out his 1-2-3 for the race.

2026 Falmouth Stakes Runners

A top notch two-year-old, Precise failed to fire on her first start of the season when finishing a disappointing seventh in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, the Ballydoyle starlet has rocketed back into the limelight with victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. That brace of Group 1 wins means she heads to flat HQ a red-hot odds-on favourite for the Falmouth Stakes, and in receipt of weight to her elders then is the one to beat.

Runner-up at Group 1 level last season in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, Blue Bolt showed her class when winning a listed event at Goodwood. However, she showed she’s a real top-class miler when storming to victory in the Duke Of Cambrige Stakes at the Royal meeting. Kicking clear of her rivals that day, she’s face a whole new sort of test on Friday, but is on the upgrade and has to be respected.

A winner at the Breeders’ Cup, Balantina could only finish fifth behind Precise in the Coronation Stakes last month. Donnacha O’Brien’s charge is better than she showed that day, but does have a tough assignment to turn the form around.

Second to Blue Bolt at Royal Ascot, Jancis is set for another crack and adds more depth to the race, whilst Evolutionist, Venetian Lace and the Ballydoyle pacemaker Venosa complete the line-up.

2026 Falmouth Stakes Racecard

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Good To Firm

Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)

First Prize: £212662.5
1m 0f 0y
Class 1
7 runners

ITV

View Course

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

1 (5)

Blue Bolt 23 days

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Form: 122-11 D

OR: 115

W: 9st 9lb

Age: 4 yo Filly

Form

Runner-up in the Group 1 Sun Chariot on the other Newmarket course last October (1m, good) and this lightly raced 4yo made it two from two for the year when winning the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last month, travelling well to beat Jancis by just under 2l; that latest performance suggests she’s capable of landing a Group 1 prize; key player.

2 (1)

Jancis 23 days

J: Sean Levey

T: W McCreery

Form: 62-152

OR: 114

W: 9st 9lb

Age: 5 yo Filly

Form

5yo who has been a big improver this year, winning the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes on the other Newmarket course (1m1f, good to firm) on her reappearance and producing a career best when second to Blue Bolt in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last month, beaten just under 2l under a 3lb penalty; they reoppose off level weights and she’s not ruled out.

3 (6)

Balantina 21 days

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Form: 3251-5 D

OR: 113

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 3 yo Filly

Form

2yo campaign concluded with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (1m, firm); reappeared with respectable fifth to Precise in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last month, when she got warm beforehand and weakened late; could show the benefit of that outing and pose a bigger threat today; trainer won this in 2024 with Porta Fortuna.

4 (4)

1 tip

Evolutionist 26 days

J: Shane Foley

T: K R Burke

Form: 33-128 CD

OR: 111

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 3 yo Filly

Form

C&D maiden winner last August who was third to Precise in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile in October; returned with Group 3 win at Longchamp (1m, good) in April and runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas (1m, good to firm) next time, faring best of those who raced on the far side (led that group); failed to settle and weakened when soundly beaten in the Prix de Diane (10.5f, good to firm) last time; drops back in trip but improvement is needed to win this.

OUR TIP

5 (3)

2 tips

Precise 21 days

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 11-711 D

OR: 115

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 3 yo Filly

Form

Underwhelming favourite in the 1,000 Guineas on reappearance but has left that behind for subsequent wins in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh (1m, good) and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm); after a slow start last time she was trapped three wide but still won in convincing fashion, and she’s a leading contender in her bid for a fifth Group 1 win.

6 (2)

Venetian Lace 35 days

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Johnston

Form: 362-39

OR: 110

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 3 yo Filly

Form

Second to Precise in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile last October (good; no match for the winner) and returned with fine third in the 1,000 Guineas (1m, good to firm; Fillies’ Mile third Evolutionist in second); failed to settle when tailed off over 1m4f in the Oaks last month (when reportedly unsuited by the slow ground); drops back in trip but with something to find.

7 (7)

Venosa 61 days

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 6583-0

OR: 89

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 3 yo Filly

Form

She’s shown ability but nothing like enough to suggest she’ll be a contender today; 0-6 and likely to be a pacemaker for her stablemate Precise.

Terms and conditions

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Betting Forecast

7/2 Blue Bolt, 12/1 Jancis, 5/1 Balantina, 20/1 Evolutionist, 8/11 Precise, 16/1 Venetian Lace, 100/1 Venosa

Verdict

The 3yo PRECISE tests her mettle against older horses for the first time and in Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Blue Bolt she faces a 4yo who may well be winning at Group 1 level sooner rather than later. However, Precise impressed with the way she won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, having been caught wide after a slow start, and she can secure a fifth Group 1 win. Last season’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Balantina is open to improvement on her second start back from time off, and she is third choice ahead of Duke Of Cambridge runner-up Jancis, who is 3lb better off with Blue Bolt today.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Precise

TOPSPEED:

Evolutionist

POSTDATA:

Precise

2026 Falmouth Stakes Tips

You have to go back to 2017 for the last time Aidan O’Brien won the Falmouth Stakes, but the Irish supremo can reign once again with Precise, who can deliver the goods on the big stage once again. Blue Bolt is a lively rival, but is going to struggle to give weight away to the multiple Group 1 winner. Runner-up in the 1000 Guineas, Evolutionist could bounce back from a poor run in the Coronation Stakes and grab third spot.

Precise

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Blue Bolt

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Evolutionist

J: Shane Foley

T: K R Burke

FAQ

When and where is the Falmouth Stakes run?

The Falmouth Stakes will take place at Newmarket racecourse on Friday 10th July, 2026 at 3.35pm.

How can I watch the Falmouth Stakes on Friday?

The Falmouth Stakes is live on ITV at 3.35pm on Friday afternoon.

When were the Falmouth Stakes tips published?

The tips for the Falmouth Stakes were published at 12.00pm on Thursday 8th July.

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