Coverage of the three-day Newmarket July Festival gets underway on ITV on Thursday, 9th July. Six races will be covered, including two interesting contests from Doncaster.
We have gone through all televised races on Thursday, picking out ITV horse racing tips, and an accumulator for ITV racing.
ITV’s coverage of the Newmarket July Festival kicks off with the Group Three Bahrain Trophy Stakes. Galiyan could still be open to progress for the Andrew Balding yard, and Oisin Murphy retains the partnership.
The three-year-old was beaten seven lengths by Maho Bay on rules debut, but it always appeared that the son of Galiway would be better over further. He avenged that loss with a comfortable win in a Maiden Stakes at Chester in May, beating Joulany by two lengths.
Ran with credit when three lengths behind Limestone over a mile and six in the Group Two Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last month.
Doncaster is also covered on ITV this Thursday, with an interesting Novice Stakes over seven furlongs kicking off the card.
Bulletsnap should have learned plenty on his debut under rules, finishing within a length of The Harv at Goodwood. Soft ground conditions may have gone against him on that day, and he could be a different proposition now on good ground. Cieren Fallon takes over in the saddle.
Juveniles will be in action in the second race from Newmarket, as a field of four goes to post for the Group Two Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes.
Charlie Appleby’s excellent record at the track ensures that Inner City Blues could be the standout play to follow up on his striking win under rules at York last month. The talented Blue Point colt powered clear of the field to beat Stardom Glory by two lengths. William Buick is notably aboard.
Next up is the St Leger Trial Novice Stakes from Doncaster. Joseph O’Brien sends Count Bezukhov to the Yorkshire track on Thursday, and the Irish raider by Wootton Bassett requires respect.
The three-year-old made amends for his debut defeat at the Curragh at the end of May, getting up in the closing stages to see off Lonely Island by under a length. Bred to be even better over further, and will relish this step up to a mile and four. In-form Billy Loughnane takes the ride.
The first handicap of the week at Newmarket comes over six furlongs. Sea Cookie looks to be ahead of the handicapper based on his efforts this season for the Tom Clover yard.
Since being gelded, the son of Dark Angel has won on back-to-back starts, including a striking display when beating Valley Ofthe Kings by over a length over course and distance late last month. Up 5lb at the weights, but Jack Callan takes off 3lb.
The feature on Day One of the July Festival is the Group Two Princess Of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and four. Globe-trotting Rebel’s Romance returns to the track, but he could be vulnerable after a 131-day break.
Therefore, the largely progressive Convergent could be an interesting contender for the Karl Burke team. The four-year-old gets weight from the market leader, and was striking on his return to the track when landing the Group Three John Porter.
Underwhelmed at Epsom last time, but ground conditions went against him in the Group One Coronation Cup. A return to quicker ground is a key reason for his strong chance.
