With Euro 2024 taking a break between Thursday and Saturday, there is no better time for ITV to be broadcasting some top class racing from Newmarket. With the July Course in focus, we have three best bets for you to follow, including a juvenile with a big reputation and a 25/1 handicap outsider.
1.50 Newmarket – Bahrain Trophy (Group 3)
Newmarket looks set to receive a fair bit of rain before Thursday, so it would be surprised if the ground were any quicker than good-to-soft, and it may well be slower still. That plays into the hands of the two favourites in Ancient Wisdom and SPACE LEGEND, but though Charlie Appleby has claimed two of the last three runnings, his challenger has not yet shown a great deal as a three-year-old and is opposable with the selection.
He readily won on his only start on soft, form which has been franked, and he has since finished second in two Pattern races. The first was a luckless runner-up finish in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood when not getting the clearest run and powering home for a narrow defeat. He then had little chance of dealing with French raider Calandagan in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, but was a clear second, and these conditions should suit even better, as stamina looks his strong suit.
2.25 Newmarket – Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes (Group 2)
It is not an inspired choice, especially as Aidan O’Brien has regularly fallen slightly short in this race, but WHISTLEJACKET boasts outstanding claims on the whole. His defeat on debut was swiftly put behind him in decisive fashion in a Curragh Listed race and though he was the shortest-priced beaten favourite all week at Royal Ascot, there were excuses then too.
He was the first home of those racing on his part of the track in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes and Aesterius, who finished just behind him, has since gone on to win in Listed company himself. Add to the fact that the selection is a full brother to Little Big Bear and it is easy to see why stepping back up to 6f should suit, while if the ground does get soft, he will face few issues on that front too.
3.00 Newmarket – Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap
Having probably found 5f on the fast side at Royal Ascot, a chance is given to BRAVE EMPIRE, who is a big price with that having been a strong contest, and also finding himself drawn on the wrong side of the track. Roger Varian’s charge is on his last winning mark from the all-weather, but looks just as capable on turf.
Though he nominally finished 18th of 28 in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes at the royal meeting, he finished fourth of the eight drawn down the near side of the track, beaten only just over two lengths by the best of those in that section. He also got boxed in against the rail late in the day, but was staying on despite Danny Tudhope relatively easing off inside the closing stages.
Overall, if treating that near side section as a separate contest, he is 1lb better off for finishing under a length behind the more fancied Two Tribes, who reopposes, having also experienced trouble in running. If stall 15 proves no issue (four of the last five winners of this race have been drawn 12 or above), and the rain does not overly dampen the going, then he is a live outsider.
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