The horse racing broadcaster offers up his six selections for Friday's racing at York and the Newmarket July Festival.
Six interesting races on ITV on Friday, split between the second day of the Debenhams July Festival and backed up by a couple of races from York, including a big field handicap which has been a rarity since the ground dried up, and all are of interest.
Coverage starts with a 10f handicap at Newmarket where two horses that looked better than finishing positions at Royal Ascot are tough to choose between. The pair are Laureate Crown, who ended up on the wrong side in the Britannia, and PRINCLING 5/2 (13:50 Newmarket) who did best of the hold-up horses in the Golden Gates. For Laureate Crown it is the step up in trip in a race that looks likely to be solidly run that is the main query. Whilst the pace will suit his hold up style, it will test his stamina. Oisin Murphy timed his run well at Sandown and the fact he tends to only win narrowly (1/2l on both his handicap successes) has helped keep him ahead of the handicapper, but his pedigree does raise questions as to whether he will be suited by 10f. That is not the case for Princling, who also looks likely to get a good tow into the race and the experience gained in the hurly burly of the Carlisle Silver Bowl and the Golden Gates should not be lost on him. There is not a great deal between the pair, but it is the more proven stamina of Princling that could prove the deciding factor.
Two also catch the eye in the 7f handicap at York in Andesite and NORTHERN EXPRESS (EW) 6/1 (14:10 York). Andesite has been knocking at the door from a yard that has picked up in recent weeks, but his form is there for all to see, and he does need producing late and at the bigger price Northern Express down in grade makes more appeal. He has always had a terrific record on the Knavesmire and that includes a win in this race in 2023. He has usually run over 1m in recent seasons and that coupled with his consistency is why the race may be better approached from an each way angle.
The first of the Group Races is the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes where LIBERTANGO 5/6 (14:25 Newmarket) will justifiably be a short price after her win in the Albany. To my mind she and Orthodox in the Norfolk were the most impressive juveniles’ performances at Royal Ascot and the initial signs that the Albany is a solid form race are good. Of the five horses that have run out of the race, three have won and Libertango looked to win with a bit in hand that day. She will be a short price but if all goes well here could well be back for the Cheveley Park later on in the season as she looked a genuine Group 1 performer and hopefully can reinforce that impression here.
The start will be as important as the finish in the Summer Stakes as FLORA OF BERMUDA’s 100/30 (14:45 York) stalls issues resurfaced at Royal Ascot. Her race record has often been compromised by slow breaks but this time having gone in early she got upset in the stalls, and it was a surprise that she was not withdrawn. Her run therefore can be completely forgiven, and it is interesting that connections come here rather than the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. She has been a regular in Group 1 sprints, placing on three occasions but her last Group victory was in this race back in 2024. After the events of Ascot, a confidence restorer seems sensible but even though she clearly has the class to win this her history of slow starts does temper confidence.
Another repeat performance could also come via ONEFORTHEGUTTER 18/1 (15:00 Newmarket) who is worth supporting against short-priced favourite Wine Dark Sea in the £100k Betway Trophy Handicap. Ian Williams is an excellent target trainer, look for example at Aalto in the Bunbury Cup, and this race is highly likely to have been top of the agenda since Oneforthegutter’s victory last season. Such has been the dive in form he actually lines up off a 4lb lower mark, and he was also 1lb higher back in 2024 when finishing second. Wine Dark Sea will be all the rage after back-to-back victories at Ascot (the race has worked out well) and Carlisle but can help make the market for the Ian Williams horse who is definitely worth an interest.
The best is saved until last with the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes featuring a clash of the generations with three-year-old Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Precise taking on the elder BLUE BOLT 12/5 (15:35 Newmarket). At this stage my overall view of the three-year fillies is not that high. Touleen would have finished closer to Precise but for meeting trouble at Ascot whilst Blue Bolt got there plenty soon enough in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge and looked value for more than her winning margin, meaning she should confirm the form with Jancis. Her Sun Chariot second at the end of last season showed she is capable of competing at this level, and at the time of writing the price differential (7-2 vs 8-11) between her and Precise looks too great.
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