This week sees the famous July Festival taking place at Newmarket, a three day event that attracts everyone from punters to fashionistas alike, all watching the spectacle unfold at Suffolk’s world renowned racecourse.
The July Festival traditionally takes the following format:
July 11th - Ladies Day:
The event gets underway on the Thursday, which is also known as Ladies Day.
The Henry Cecil Stakes is the first high quality race of the meeting, which is a Listed race run over 1m. The day also features the Bahrain Trophy, the Princess of Wales Stakes and the July Stakes.
July 12th - Feel Good Friday:
Feel Good Friday, previously Abu Dhabi Day, sees one of the bigger races of the fixture take place, that being the Falmouth Stakes.
This is a Group 1 race and is run over 1m. Former well known winners of this race include Timepiece, Goldikova, Soviet Song and Sonic Lady.
July 13th - Darley Cup Day:
The last day is referred to as ‘Darley Day’ due to the fact that the prestigious Group 1 Darley July Cup is the feature race of the day and carries a total purse of £500,000. Run over six furlongs, the race is one of the most exhilarating sprints of the season.
Some notable winners from the past include Never So Bold, Mozart, Fleeting Spirit and Harry Angel, to name but a few. Who will be making the horse racing betting news this year one wonders?
So which are the biggest races of the week and who is entering them?
THURSDAY
Sir Henry Cecil Stakes
A race open to three-year-olds, the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes fist came into being in 2007.
It was previously known as the Xplor Conditions Stakes and then the Stubbs Stakes in 2013, the year it gained its Listed status. In 2014 it was given its current title, being named after the former flat racing trainer Sir Henry Cecil.
The Ralph Beckett-trained Biometric looks set to contest the race on Thursday. The colt denied Frankie Dettori a five-timer on the Thursday of the Royal Ascot meeting by consigning his mount into second place in the Britannia Stakes.
Beckett said: “He is most likely to go to Newmarket for the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes – that is the plan at the moment. It is the obvious race for him. He came out of Ascot well, and I'd be keen on that idea.
“It was a good effort, and I thought he was still learning on the job as well. At half-way he was off it and behind the bridle, and it didn't look like he was going to get anywhere. The further he went into the race, the stronger it got for him.
“I'd say he has got a mark where we have to run in a stakes race now. It's the right spot for him. I think it is likely that a mile is as far as he will want to go.”
The Bahrain Trophy
The race takes place over a distance of one mile and five furlongs and dates back to 1986. Considered to be a stepping stone to the St. Leger, the contest is open to three-year-olds only.
King Edward VII Stakes third, Eagles By Day, is the early antepost favourite for this year’s renewal on the back of his decent showing behind Japan.
Michael Bell said of Eagles By Day after his Royal Ascot podium finish: "I was delighted with that. He stayed on well to the line. He is an immature horse, but he obviously stays well and they are such fun horses to own and train.
"The Bahrain Trophy is possibly under consideration, but that is a three-week turnaround. On the back of that it looks an obvious race."
The Princess Of Wales's Stakes
Having been first run in 1894, the Princess of Wales's Stakes is one of the oldest races at Newmarket.
The race is open to three-year-olds and above and has weight allowances of eight stone four pound for three-year-olds and nine stone two pounds for horses aged four and over. There is also a useful three pound allowance for fillies and mares.
Last year’s Derby winner Masar is due to continue his comeback in the Princess of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt had his first run in over a year in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting but could only manage fifth place that day after taking a hefty bump at the start.
FRIDAY
The Falmouth Stakes
The Falmouth Stakes is one of the most open races on the July Festival itinerary as it allows both fillies and mares, aged three and up, to compete against one another.
The William Haggas-trained One Master, who was just touched off late by Lord Glitters and Beat The Bank in the Queen Anne, will race against her own sex in the Falmouth.
“Whether she went too early, which I think is harsh, or whether she just didn’t quite get home I don’t know,” said Haggas of the mare, who managed to land a competitive renewal of the Prix de la Foret at the end of last season.
Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes
This race is the female equivalent of the The July Stakes – i.e it is a race for fillies rather than the colts and geldings.
Originally named the Cherry Hinton Stakes the title was changed in honour of the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
After an impressive 8-length winning debut at Newmarket’s July Course, Ed Vaughan will be sending his Ultra Violet back to the venue for a crack at the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes.
Vaughan said: "Ultra Violet was very impressive and has come out of the race well. She has won her maiden well, and it is all about trying to get some black type now.
The Duchess of Cambridge is an option. It would be a tough ask on her second start - and it comes quick enough - but she seemed straightforward first time up.”
SATURDAY
Darley July Cup
The July Cup has been a Group 1 since 1978 and in 2008 it became part of the Global Sprint Series, coming in as the sixth leg of the said series.
The Commonwealth Cup has already provided two winners of this and Advertise, who was right back to form when landing this year’s renewal, has a great chance for trainer Martyn Meade.
For all the latest odds on horse racing at the Newmarket July Festival this week, remember to check out our website.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
