Newmarket July Festival day one: Race Rundown ...Middle East

Get ready for three days of non-stop horse racing action.

The Newmarket July Festival delivers on and off the track, and here, Andrew takes you through all seven races of day one of the Debenhams Newmarket July Festival.

Quick Newmarket July Festival day one tips

Win singles & each way

 1:50 Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes – 1m5f

The Queen Vase form comes to the fore here as four of the top seven from the Royal Ascot Group 2 clash again. Not much is separating Titanium Emperor, Hallelujah U, Scandinavia, and FURTHUR, but the former looks like the one who will benefit the most from the slight drop in distance.

Furthur was the one who got the closest to the Queen Vase winner Carmers, but away from his Royal Ascot second, his fifth in the Group 3 Chester Vase behind the now dual Derby winner, Lambourn, is a standout piece of form. The sixth Thrice has won a Group 3 since, the third Convergent was beaten a short head in the Group 1 German Derby, and the second Lazy Griff has gone on to finish second in the English Derby and third in the Irish Derby.

If any of the five runners have more improvement in them, it’s Furthur. Knightime Dancer was last seen down the field in the English Derby, and even though he will appreciate the drop in grade, he needs to take a step forward here.

FURTHUR

2024 Winner: Ancient Wisdom – J: William Buick – T: Charlie Appleby– Odds: 6/2Fav

Bet on FURTHUR with Ladbrokes

2:25 Group 2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes – 6f

Do Or Do Not may still be a maiden after three starts, but he was the one that got the closest to the impressive Coventry Stakes winner, Gstaad. He is learning on the job, and should he at least replicate his Royal Ascot run, he will go close to breaking his maiden tag.

Comical Point ran green at Royal Ascot and should be more streetwise back in this less demanding field. He looks at big danger. However, the Godolphin runner MAXIMIZED has been very professional in his two wins to date.

He easily got the better of the odds on Time To Turn (has won since) on debut and then backed that up with an impressive win at Epsom, beating the now Windsor Castle Stakes winner Havana Hurricane. This son Mehmas looks the part, and he can extend his unbeaten run at the expense of Brussels and Comical Point.

MAXIMIZED

2024 Winner: Whistlejacket – J: Ryan Moore – T: Aidan O’Brien – Odds: 11/10Fav 

Bet on MAXIMIZED with SBK

3:00 Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap – 6f

The obvious starting point in this deep handicap is Hucklesbrook. He was a good winner of a York handicap when getting the better of the reposing Double Rush. The latter has an 8 lb swing in the weights here, which, in theory, should be enough to reverse the placing.

However, the nature in which Hucklesbrook won that day indicates that there the 8 lb rise may not be enough to stop a follow-up win. Both have standout chances, as do Arabian Sun, Prince Of India, and Realign, but the one that looks on a steep upward curve is CRESTOFDISTINCTION.

This big, powerful son of Kodiac has won two of his five starts to date, with his latest win being the performance of a colt going places. Both his wins have come on the all-weather, but he has been far from disgraced when racing on turf.

Crestofdistinction has a bit to find with Hucklesbrook and Prince Of India on their meeting at Leicester in May, but the Jack Channon-trained colt took a nice step forward on his latest start. This race does mark a big step up in class but given how he pulled over five lengths clear at Wolverhampton when still looking as green as grass, Crestofdistinction could have been left in lightly here.

CRESTOFDISTINCTION

2024 Winner: Sargent Wilko – J: Oisin Murphy – T: Kevin Ryan– Odds: 6/1

Bet on CRESTOFDISTINCTION with Tote

3:35 Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes – 1m4f

This is not a strong Group 2 by any stretch, and it looks like a good opportunity for GHOSTWRITER to get off the mark for the first time since September 2023. He has been running consistently well in the past two seasons at the highest level, and his two runs this season suggest that his turn is just around the corner.

He rallied well in the Group 2 Hardwick Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he had Palladium over one length behind. He should uphold that form, and his biggest danger may come from Wimbledon Hawkeye. The James Owen runner has been highly tried this season and has not disgraced himself in either of his four starts.

His only slight issue is that if he races freely as he did at Royal Ascot in a much smaller field, his race could be run before the push comes to shove. However, should he settle, he has the class to be a major player.

GHOSTWRITER

2024 Winner: Giavellotto – J: Oisin Murphy – T: Marco Botti – Odds: 10/3

Bet on GHOSTWRITER with Midnite

4:10 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes – 6f

The market will be telling here for the four first-time starters, and any market support should be taken seriously, especially for the George Boughey runner, Night Shining.

The form of the ones with experience isn’t insurmountable, but COUNTRY ARTISE took a big step forward from his debut seventh at Windsor to fill the runner-up spot in a novice race at Newbury. He is likely to be up there with the pace and given that there should be even more improvement to come, the Clive Cox runner can make the most of his experience and get off the mark at the third time of asking.

COUNTRY ARTISE

2024 Winner: Magic Mild – J: Rossa Ryan – T: Clive Cox– Odds: 15/2

Bet on COUNTRY ARTISE with Spreadex

4:45 Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes – 1m

This race appears more competitive than some of the Group races on display today, which should lead to a grandstand finish. The headstrong Opera Ballo is given massive respect on the back of an easy win at this level at Sandown in May and looks sure to go well despite having to concede weight all around. Elarak bolted up over course and distance on when making it two wins from three starts.

Should he live up to his mark, there is every reason that he can be bang there in this stronger company. You can add Arabian Story and Seagulls Eleven to the list of potential winners, but a chance is taken that ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT can get back to winning ways here. He was unlucky not to win on his seasonal return when having to wait an age to get a run.

He followed that up with a five-length ninth in the Group 2 Dante Stakes, and he did look to be stretched by the Dante distance. A drop back to one mile at Epsom saw him just over two lengths off now Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands. He needs to find his best form today, but at a likely decent each-way price, Royal Playwright will be able to play a major role back at Listed level.

ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT

2024 Winner: Al Musmak – J: Silvestre De Sousa– T: Roger Varian – Odds: 11/2

Bet on ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT with Sky Bet

5:20 Newmarket Handicap – 1m

Where’s Fredy turned around the form with Mr Swivell back on turf over this course and distance last month, and a 4 lb rise is fair even given the half-length winning margin. He will have a part to play should he get a strong pace to aim at, as should fellow last time out winner BOYFRIEND.

The Richard Hannon runner was pipped in the shadows of the finishing line at Newbury by the now Royal Hunt Cup winner, My Cloud. He was hit with a 3 lb, but it wasn’t enough to stop him going one better at Nottingham. Having been slow into stride when leaving the stalls (not for the first time), Boyfriend had no choice but to be held up off the pace. He made smooth headway and eventually got the better of Madame De Sevigne in a sustained duel.

He may have only won by a neck on the day, but he had a lot more left in the locker if needed. With the inclusion of fellow Wood’s-owned Son, it may be a case that the same tactics will be adopted here, with Son likely to be on peacemaking duty. The old boy, Dutch Decoy, has become extremely well handicapped on his old form and showed signs on his latest start that he may be about to find his level again.

BOYFRIEND

2024 Winner: Sterling Knight – J: Oisin Murphy – T: Ed Dunlop– Odds: 7/1 

Bet on BOYFRIEND with Betfred

Newmarket July Festival day one schedule

How to watch the Newmarket July Festival day one

About the author

Andrew Halligan

My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.

You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).

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