The horse racing broadcaster has three selections on offer for day two of the Newmarket July Festival and another from York on Friday.
Friday is day two of the July Festival, and the pick of the six ITV races split between Newmarket and York is the Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes for Fillies and Mares over a mile.
The market is headed by the first two home in the Duke of Cambridge, Cinderella’s Dream and Crimson Advocate, whose sharp turn of foot proved decisive. It is not an insurmountable bar to reach, and at a price ATSILA / (15:35 Newmarket) could prove over the odds. Given her inexperience, it was a very creditable achievement to turn over subsequent Coronation Stakes winner Cercene on only her second career start. She found the steadily run Irish 1000 Guineas not playing to her strengths, clocking the third-best final 2f despite only finishing seventh. If she can be ridden a little closer, she could still be open to further progress which isn’t the case for a lot of the field.
The opener can see KURAKKA / (13:50 Newmarket) complete a hat-trick for in form Alan King. A novice win at Chelmsford was followed up by a Haydock victory off a mark of 82. The race has thrown up four next-time-out winners, so a rise of 7lb looks reasonable. He drops back in trip to 10f but that may help him settle as he was a little keen last time and just appears to be an improving performer. Alan King is 17/79 (A/E 1.43) from May onwards.
Albany winner Venetian Sun will be a short-priced favourite for the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge having looked a class act at Ascot. Both his wins have been underpinned by being strong at the finish so, on fast ground, remaining at 6f might be a slight concern. By contrast, the only maiden in the field, SHINE ON ME / (14:25 Newmarket), steps up in trip after her 6th in the Queen Mary. One place ahead of her that day was Staya, who won next time out and is worth a throw at the stumps at a big price.
Pick of the day at York could be FIRST INSTINCT / (14:45 York), who should appreciate the return to 6f in the Summer Stakes. The pace should be set by Celandine on his belated return to action, and potentially give the lower to middle numbers a tactical advantage over those drawn high.
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