Day One July Cup Meeting Newmarket Preview

The first race of the afternoon at Newmarket's July Cup meeting is the Maiden Fillies' Stakes over six furlongs and Ivory Madonna for Richard Spencer could take all the beating.

Seen twice in her career to date she offers by the far the best form on off heading into this event, finishing third on debut at Goodwood behind a nice type for John & Thady Gosden and then next time out stepping up in class at Royal Ascot and again placing behind some nice horses.

Last seen in the Group Three Albany Stakes behind the talented Meditate and Mawj, she outran her odds of 66/1 to grab third, staying on well to see off Queen Olly.

She should improve once more and this could be a perfect opportunity to get off the mark.

One of the feature events of the afternoon is the Group Three Bahrain Stakes over 1m5f and it sees a small but select field head to post.

We are siding with the Godolphin owned Walk Of Stars who having now been gelded makes big appeal for a yard that has a great record with their horses winning after getting the operation.

The three year old made his debut in October 2021 as a Juvenile when third behind surprise winner Juan Bermudez for Andrew Balding.

Getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Nottingham over 8.5f, he was put away until this year and returned at Newbury over 10f and made it back to back wins in a small field.

Seen twice more since in better company, he was an unlucky loser in the Derby Trial at Lingfield in May, but when heading into the Derby ran no race at all to come home last.

Having now been gelded it will hopefully bring him big improvement and also going up in trip to 1m5f and looking like he would stay further makes him interesting.

Another classy event on Thursday on the July course is the Group Two Close Brothers July Course over six furlongs and we are giving Persian Force the nod.

A €225,000 purchase for Richard Hannon in the Amo Racing colours, he looks a smart prospect off the back of what he has done so far and his pedigree.

A smart son of sprinter Mehmas out of a Lope De Vega mare, he made a big impression on debut at Doncaster in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes, showing a clear turn of foot to pull away from the field and win by close to five lengths.

Then sent to Newbury in a three runner Conditions event he bolted up again and it was bigger and better contests going forward.

Last seen stepping up in class in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was a very smart second behind a nice type for Archie Watson.

He has it all to do again against the favourite Little Big Bear, but having showed plenty of ability in better races than the fav, we are happy to stick with him.

One of the trickiest events of the afternoon on Thursday from Newmarket is the bet365 Heritage Handicap over six furlongs and with a huge field heading to post we have picked out two each way selections.

Our first selection is the Karl Burke trained Aasser who is drawn in stall one and dropping back to 6f looks an attractive bet at a double figure price.

Making his debut in October 2021 over 7f at Wolves he was a good second and then backed that up with another smart second behind the talented Checkandchallenge.

Getting off the mark at the third time of asking at Wolves on his first try at 6f, he made it back to back wins at Lingfield over the same distance.

Seen three more times since on turf, he was a middle the road sixth of 12 at Hamilton on handicap debut, but has since been seen at Musselburgh and Ayr in competitive events and he has placed in second on both occasions.

A highly consistent animal that has been very unlucky not to win more races, off his mark of 90 with William Buick in the saddle, he looks a player.

At a slightly bigger price and drawn in the prime stall according to the stats in this event, Azure Blue will be looking to reverse the form with the favourite Khanjar and at nearly three times the price looks the value.

A winner on his final start as a juvenile last term having placed on his three prior starts, he was sent into his first handicap event on debut this term and was a good fifth of 21 in a 6f Sunday Series Dash Handicap at York.

Seen twice more this term he got off the mark for the season at Hamilton off a mark of 77 and then upped to 83 at Redcar bumped into Khanjar who won well by three lengths.

Azure Blue is much better off at the weights on Thursday receiving 9lb having only received 2lb in their last meeting and at 14/1 holds a big chance.

One of the final big events of the afternoon is the Princess Of Wales's Close Brothers Stakes and Yibir and Mostahdaf are joint at the top of the betting market.

We are siding with the latter horse for John & Thady Gosden, with the four year old colt being very progressive this season and might have more in the tank than the Godolphin horse.

A smart son of Frankel during his career, he has mixed it in tougher races this season and held his own, making his seasonal debut at Sandown in the Gordon Richards Stakes and bolting up.

Back over the same course and distance taking on Bay Bridge in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes he was seen back in second getting dominated by a very good horse.

Stepping up into Group Two level at Royal Ascot over 12f for the first time in the Hardwicke Stakes he was a staying on second behind Broome, beating Hurricane Lane easily back in third.

Looks a tough race to call, but we are just siding with Mostahdaf

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over a mile and one of our best bets of the day is Mighty Ulysees for John & Thady Gosden.

Mighty Ulysses looks the one to beat in this for the Gosden partnership being seen five times and looking more like a group horse every race he runs.

Making a very smart debut as a two year old over a mile he returned this season in the Listed Blue Riband Trial At Epsom and didn’t take to the extra two furlongs when only fifth.

He returned to form in a big way next time out at Newmarket over a mile landing a Novice Stakes by close to five lengths, looking a class act.

Given his handicap debut two starts ago at Haydock he was well punted and was an unlucky loser back in second, just going down by a better handicapped horse.

Sent to Royal Ascot, stepped up into the Group One St James's Palace Stakes he looked to have a big chance with a furlong to go, but could only manage a close up fifth in what was a five way photo finish.

The form of that race looks extremely strong and now back into Listed level, he could be tough to beat.

The final event of the afternoon is the Class 3 Handicap over a mile and Evocative Spark for George Boughey and Ryan Moore could still be better than his mark of 93.

Really coming to life this season, the son of Frankel made his seasonal debut at April when a close second at Beverley over 7.5f, but next time out over the same course and distance got off the mark in a big way, bolting up in a Class 3 Handicap by close to six lengths.

Sent to Goodwood on softish ground he ran no race, but bounced back to form in a big way at Chester last time out when seeing off a horse for William Haggas who was chasing a four timer.

Only up 3lb for this event, he should go well getting his preferred conditions.