The first day of Newmarket’s July Festival begins on Thursday with some top class racing. GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out his best four bets across the day’s contests, including an Epsom Derby eyecatcher.
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1.50 Newmarket (July) – Bahrain Trophy Stakes (Group 3)
An Aidan O’Brien runner will always catch the eye in a race like this, but Ballydoyle are without a win in the Bahrain Trophy since 2016. Godolphin runners had dominated of late, but no runner represents the boys in blue this year in an open five-runner race.
Four of the quintet come from the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, but it is the sole Derby representative in NIGHTIME DANCER who appeals most. Richard Hannon’s charge was an enormous eyecatcher at Epsom, having gone off as a 100/1 outsider, and was stone last for the majority of the journey.
However, where so many did not make up ground from the back of the field, Richard Hannon’s charge ran on as powerfully as anything to finish eight of 18. He was closer to the winner Lambourn at the line than he was at the top of the straight, which given so few horses were able to make any effort from the rear of the field suggests there is a serious engine for this 1m5f trip. His previous form would already have entitled him to be competitive in this line-up too.
2.25 Newmarket (July) – Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes (Group 2)
Maximized has the form in the book, with his Woodcote Stakes success boosted at Royal Ascot, while Brussels could easily prove to be the latest Aidan O’Brien-trained juvenile to hit new heights in Group company. Neither represent a great deal of value against British-trained rivals with a mixture of backgrounds.
Do Or Do Not and Comical Point both ran well at Royal Ascot, while Jel Pepper looked useful on debut, albeit on soft. ZAVATERI looks worth a speculative bet as the outsider of the field though, with his trainer Eve Johnson Houghton providing the runner-up in this a year ago.
Those behind the selection at Salisbury in June have not done much to frank the form, but he won the race very stylishly despite running green. He clearly has much more to offer and may well prove a horse worthy of his place in this company.
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3.00 Newmarket (July) – Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap
Recent renewals suggest it is very difficult to win this after being held up. Indeed, two of the last three runnings have seen the winner make all, which brings TAWASOL strongly into calculations.
It has not been a prolific period for the Crisford yard, but their son of Havana Grey looks a potentially high-class sprinter in the making. After a poor show on debut, he has recorded form figures of 2211, getting off the mark comfortably at Brighton and then bolting in on his handicap debut at Doncaster.
That he made all at Doncaster, which is not a front-runners’ paradise like many sprint tracks, suggests he is more than worthy of his 11lb rise in the handicap. Jack Mitchell did not look to get overly serious with the grey and he can go in again.
3.35 Newmarket (July) – Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 2)
Ghostwriter has the ability to win at this level and has his sights lowered for the first time since his two-year-old days. However, last year’s German Derby winner PALLADIUM was only just over a length behind him in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and that looks overturnable.
Briefly with Nicky Henderson as a juvenile hurdling campaign loomed, he has since joined the Gosdens, whose older runners on turf have been striking at a 31% lick this term. He was a close third to Hamish on his return at Goodwood, which he followed with that fourth place at Ascot.
He was upsides Ghostwriter before following him home. Although able to quicken in those circumstances, this smaller field could lead things to become more tactical. He may well race more prominently and Ryan Moore being aboard is an obvious bonus.
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