2023 Thursday Newmarket July Festival Tips – DS
2023 Thursday Newmarket July Festival Tips
We are in for a treat this week. Not only do we have three days of top class racing at Newmarket, on Saturday we also have quality fare from both Ascot and York. The July Cup on Saturday is the big race of the weekend, we have an ante-post bet here. 2023 Thursday Newmarket July Festival tips are below.
1.50 – Bahrain Trophy Stakes (Group 3)
The one that makes most appeal at a decent e/w price in this 13F G3 is Land Legend. Trained by James Ferguson, this well related son of Galileo could really flourish over this trip. His sire needs no introduction and his Dansili dam is a sister to Zoffany and a half to Rostropovich.
The 3yo didn’t show much in his juvenile campaign, earning a mark of 76 after three runs. He clearly thrived over the winter judging by his easy handicap win on his seasonal return at Newcastle. That came off 76 and he then went close at York (12f gd/fm) off 11lbs higher.
Last time out at Ascot he ran far better than his finishing position suggests. Firstly, he was slow away and turning in he was still plum last. Hollie Doyle was sitting pretty though and she began to scythe her way through the field as they hit the 3f pole.
As she went to make a potential race winning manouvre up the inner, the door was slammed shut by his stablemate Wonder Legend. Doyle had to snatch up and stop riding and that was that. The assessor has left his mark at 89 after that run so if he is right, this horse has no chance.
However, he still looked to be on the improve at Royal Ascot and he most certainly has the potential to rate far higher than his current mark. James Doyle rides and he has two wins and eight top 3 finishes from just 14 rides for James Ferguson. Hopefully he improves on that frame hitting strike rate of 71% on Land Legend at odds of 16/1.
2023 Thursday Newmarket July Festival Tip: Land Legend e/w @ 16/1
2.25 – July Stakes (Group 2)
We backed Chief Mankato at Royal Ascot but he was withdrawn after getting upset in the stalls. As it turned out, we were probably on the right track because the form of his Windsor debut win is looking strong. The runner up was third in the Windsor Castle and next two home have also won since. He’s only 7/1 today though, too short for us.
At 20s, maybe Jasour can cope with this big jump in grade. By Havana Grey, this colt has bundles of speed. He looked to have the race won on his debut at Salisbury (5f gd) but he just got collared in the closing stages. Next time at Nottingham he bounced out and made all in fine style and the horse that finished 4l back in third was a neck off second in the Listed Dragon Stakes next time out.
On pedigree 6f should be fine for this colt. His dam is a half to top sprinter and 6f G1 winner Twilight Son and a half to our July Cup fancy Run To Freedom. There’s no doubt he’s bred for the job, hopefully Jim Crowley can steer Jasour into the money at odds of 20/1.
2023 Thursday Newmarket July Festival Tip: Jasour e/w @ 20/1 NB
3.00 – Bet365 Handicap (Heritage)
The best betting race of the day. Seventeen will line up in the stalls for this 6f Heritage Handicap and it looks a pretty tricky puzzle. I’m convinced that Rousing Encore is going to pop up in one of these soon. The handicapper has given him a real chance now after dropping him to 94 but I just haven’t seen enough in his last two runs to justify putting him up at 20/1. Watch him piss in now!
One horse who has definitely shown race winning potential on his last two starts is Redemption Time. Another Clive Cox horse, he has taken a big step forward at York on his last couple of outings. In May he was beat 1.5l over 5f in a decent handicap and then last month he ran a cracker there over 6f, beat just 2.25L into 6th (of 21).
In that last race Redemption Time was fairly keen early on so he did well to get so close to the winner. On the evidence of those two runs 6f on the July Course could really suit. His sire Harry Angel won the July Cup on his sole start over C&D and the handicapper has left him on the same mark as the last twice. If he settles better, Redemption Time can go close at odds of 25/1.
2023 Thursday Newmarket July Festival Tip: Redemption Time e/w @ 25/1 (5 Places) NAP
3.35 – Princess Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 2)
Just four runners and an easy race to swerve from a betting perspective. Adayar is odds on at 1/2 and on the figures, he should be winning this on the snaff. Racing isn’t always that simple though and things could get tactical with just four runners. Israr looks the main danger but there’s no juice in his odds of 7/2. A race to just watch and enjoy. No bet.
