Newmarket’s July meeting takes place this week, with day one of the festival on the July Course beginning on Thursday.
Matthew Sutcliffe is providing his best bets for every day of the meeting. Here are his selections for day one.
Newmarket Racing Tips (Thursday 9 July 2026)
Matty has tips in a trio of races on day one of Newmarket’s July meeting, siding with one of the most consistent horses in racing in the feature Princess Of Wales’s Stakes.
13:50 Newmarket – Bahrain Trophy Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) – Alderman 11/2 1pt WIN
Four of the five were last seen at Royal Ascot, with three of them separated by three lengths in the Queen’s Vase which has thrown up winners of this race before. There is very little to separate Del Maro and Point Of Law, though the former has gained the upper hand of the latter twice and there’s little reason to see that form overturned.
Nil Bua Gan Dua was fourth in the Golden Gates Handicap, though he’s yet to shape as if this trip would bring out further improvement nor is he bred for it. Interestingly, the 2024 winner of this contest was returning from finishing down the field in the Derby, thus it may pay to chance the sole runner who returns fresher than the others here in Alderman, who finished off strongly at Epsom shaping as he would appreciate this trip.
The Study Of Man colt is still a maiden, but he is the highest rated runner in the field and his second to Water To Wine at Newbury reads well. The winner bolted up eleven lengths next time out, and he did finish in front of Golden Story at Ascot (albeit well beaten), who previously beat Del Maro at Goodwood.
The third and fourth from Newbury have also won since and on a line through Glory Of Seas, he has the marginal beating of Galiyan, thus is entitled to be close to the protagonists here. He fared the best of those from rear in the Derby, clocking the second fastest final furlong. That form has already been franked via the Irish Derby and the King Edward VII Stakes, and while he clearly coped with the ground there, his action and recorded stride frequency suggests a sounder surface can be no issue.
15:00 Newmarket – Betway Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) – Jazl 12/1 1pt EW 4 places
The last two winners of this contest came from the Leicester Handicap won in decisive style by Jazl, so it is reasonable to forgive his effort at Royal Ascot down in trip when seemingly never travelling from the off on the far side.
The son of No Nay Never is from the family of Mill Reef winner Sakheer among other talented winners, and looked to be something a bit above average when bolting up four lengths in a Windsor Maiden from a subsequent winner now rated 79, giving her 5lbs, on seasonal debut after being gelded in September.
He then followed that up at Leicester, always travelling well to the fore of the field. He hit the front upside joint favourite and re-opposing Pilu, with Jack Mitchell not having to get overly serious. The third has franked that form, and on a line through the fourth, he’s better off with the favourite Thunder Call.
If he can put that Ascot blip behind him and return to his promising ways, then he looks well overpriced in this field if a low draw isn’t a disadvantage.
15:35 Newmarket – Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (Sponsored By The Kingdom Of Bahrain) (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Rebel’s Romance EVENS 2pt WIN
Charlie Appleby has won this three times since 2017 and it would be a surprise to see Rebel’s Romance fail to bolster that record, who makes his UK seasonal debut having skipped a strong looking Hardwicke Stakes.
The eight-year-old has a tremendous record of 21-31, and his record in the UK reads 111113113, with the two sole defeats coming in the Group 1 King George VI Stakes. While he isn’t getting younger, he brings much the strongest form, and his stablemate Arabian Crown successfully upped the pace for the yard’s winner in this last season.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Tips for Thursday 9 July
13:50 Newmarket – Bahrain Trophy Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) – Alderman 11/2 1pt WIN
15:00 Newmarket – Betway Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) – Jazl 12/1 1pt EW 4 places
15:35 Newmarket – Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (Sponsored By The Kingdom Of Bahrain) (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Rebel’s Romance EVENS 2pt WIN
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Newmarket’s July meeting on Thursday 9 July.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 9.50am on Wednesday 8 July.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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