Who To Follow At Newmarket On Thursday - 08/07/21

The feature race of the day is the Group Two Princess Of Wales's Stakes over 1m4f and we can't look past the favourite Al Aasy for William Haggas.

The four year old last year showed serious ability when winning back to back races at Newmarket over 12 and 13 furlongs, but went to Glorious Goodwood after that and flopped.

Many might have given up on the Sea The Stars colt after that, but on seasonal debut he stepped up for the Group Three Surprise Stakes over course and distance and ran out a very easy 4 1/2 lengths winner.

Sent into the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes over 1m4f at Newbury last time out, he could not have been an easy winner of the race, cruising to the front and demolishing a field on the bridle that included St Leger winner Logician and Dante Stakes winner Thunderous.

It was arguably one of the performances of the season and he tried to reproduce that last time out in the Group One Coronation Cup but was unfortunately chinned on the line by the gritty Pyledriver.

He holds the most ability and best form heading into the contest and would be a shock loser.

John & Thady Gosden could be set for a big day at Newmarket on Thursday with plenty of chances in both the Group and Handicap events.

In the first he fields Red Joan who is one of the few horses that has had a run in the field and she looks to have a stellar pedigree.

Other big chances across the day are Stowell in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes, Tolstoy in the July Stakes and Derab in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

The Gosden's have been in fine form of late landing nine winners from his last 27 runners which sees him pose a 33.33% strike rate for the last two weeks.

The jockey to follow on Thursday is the talented James Doyle who has managed to pick up a good book of rides, especially towards the start of the card.

He rides Red Joan in the first for John Gosden and Godolphin who holds a big chance and then in the next sits on Yibir who would love the rain to come.

Another big chance for the rider is Ebro River for Hugo Palmer, who is another who will like the rain and last time out was a smart performer.

Other Godolphin runners for Doyle that could go well are Star Safari, Path Of Thunder and One Ruler, with all of them needing to improve.