The Newmarket July Festival opens tomorrow — Thursday July 9 to Saturday July 11 on the July course at Headquarters. Three days, 21 races, three Group 1s. Here is the form guide for the key races and where to get free selections throughout the meeting.
Thursday July 9 — Princess of Wales's Stakes and July Stakes
The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 over 1m4f — a middle-distance championship race for older horses and a natural target for horses who ran at Royal Ascot or who have been saved specifically for this target. The class benchmark on the confirmed card is Rebel's Romance, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, with an official rating of 122 and an RPR of 125. Appleby's Godolphin yard has a strong recent record in the race, having won it with Yibir, Castle Way and Ancient Wisdom in recent years.
The July Stakes is a Group 2 over six furlongs for two-year-old colts — one of the most important juvenile races of the season and a key early pointer for the following year's sprint programme. Horses who win or run well in the July Stakes carry their form through the season and into the following year's Royal Ascot targets. Appleby's Charlie Appleby and William Buick have featured prominently in recent renewals.
Thursday also features the Bahrain Trophy — a Group 3 over 1m5f for three-year-olds, won recently by Deauville Legend, Castle Way and Ancient Wisdom. Ancient Egypt, trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by David Egan, holds the highest official rating in the current confirmed field at OR 110.
Friday July 10 — Falmouth Stakes Group 1
The Falmouth Stakes is a Group 1 over a mile for fillies and mares — one of the most prestigious races of the July Festival and a natural target for Classic fillies who ran in the Guineas or the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Aidan O'Brien faces a selection decision between Precise and True Love for the Falmouth, with confirmation expected in the days before the race. Whichever of the pair he runs, a Ballydoyle filly in the Falmouth is always a significant contender.
Friday also features the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes — a Group 2 for two-year-old fillies that regularly produces some of the most impressive juvenile form of the July Festival.
Saturday July 11 — July Cup Group 1
The July Cup is the sprint championship of the Newmarket July Festival — a Group 1 over six furlongs with £453,680 to the winner. This year's confirmed field is exceptional. Venetian Sun — the Commonwealth Cup winner at Royal Ascot — heads the market as a Royal Ascot Group 1 winner with proven Ascot sprint form. Almeraq, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, brings the strongest recent sprint Group 1 credentials. The field also includes Big Mojo, Double Rush, Kind Of Blue and Lazzat, making it one of the deepest July Cup fields in recent years.
The Saturday card also includes the Bunbury Cup — a major sprint handicap — and the Superlative Stakes Group 2 for two-year-olds.
Free Selections All Three Days
Horse Racing Oracle AI publishes a free daily NAP for every day of the July Festival — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — at 11am each morning before the market opens.
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