THE final day of the Moët & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket is headlined by the Group 1 Darley July Stakes over six furlongs with Oxted looking to retain his crown. There is plenty of strong opposition with Starman, who needs quick going and didn’t run at Royal Ascot because of testing conditions.
The remarkable Rohaan, whose rating last December was 55 and is now 116, whilst the Dragon Symbol team will be looking for some redemption after losing first place in the Commonwealth Cup. Creative Force is four from four this season, whilst on two-year-old form Supremacy would be right in the mix and had excuses for his poor performance on seasonal debut. A fascinating renewal.
Ahead of the July Cup is the Bunbury Cup, which is always incredibly competitive, and you definitely need a contender who is proven over seven furlongs. Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon has Motakhayyel at the top of the weights, who has a good chance of retaining his crown (see below). For those looking for a bigger price then On A Session Unibet 22/1 each way is my selection from stall 18.
There is top racing elsewhere at York and Ascot on an enthralling Saturday of racing.
Enjoy at the racecourse or watching at home.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
3.15 Newmarket – Superlative Stakes Group 2 (7f)
Dhabab impressed on debut at Leicester when beating Sweeping and looked to have a good chance ahead of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, he was short of room and outpaced at a key stage but stayed on all the way to the line. Breeding says a mile will suit and there’s plenty more to come on this step up to seven furlongs.
Unibet 9/4 win
3.50 Newmarket – Bunbury Cup Heritage Handicap (7f)
Ametist looks a Group horse in waiting and has a record of four wins from five starts all over today’s trip of seven furlongs winning on good or quicker. Last time out on the July course he swooped late to beat No Nonsense in a tightly grouped finish. Ametist took a little time to get going two furlongs out and then he showed real acceleration in the last furlong. That was an eye-catching performance and he can defy a penalty to take the Bunbury Cup.
Unibet 5/1 win
Motakhayyel won the Bunbury Cup last year beating Sir Busker and looks sure to be involved in the finish once again for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon, as his five-year-old is running off a mark only four pounds higher than last year. His record on the July course is 112, with a good second last time out to Glorious Journey (runs in the July Cup) here in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes.
Unibet 9/1 each way
4.05 York – Handicap (1m 2f)
Fishable was a solid second over course and distance on soft ground here last October shows he won’t have any issue with conditions. Very brave from the front at Ripon in May beating Scottish Summit when last seen and presumably put away with this in mind. Cheekpieces seem to have made a difference and he has a major each way chance here.
4.25 Newmarket – Darley July Cup Stakes Group 1 (6f)
Oxted (nap) can follow up on last year’s success for popular trainer Roger Teal with Cieren Fallon in the plate as usual. This has looked the plan throughout with Oxted third to Starman (reopposes today) in May at York when not fully wound up and then making significant progress to win the King’s Stand over five furlongs in tremendous style by nearly two lengths. The return to six furlongs will show that he is still a Group 1 performer over this distance.
Unibet 4/1 win
Creative Force is four from four this season, including his last victory at Royal Ascot in the Jersey Stakes when beating Naval Crown. His other three wins have all been over six furlongs on all types of going too with his mark going from 89 to 114 this season. This three-year-old chance had a strong each-way chance.
Unibet 8/1 each way
