Best bets for the The Moët & Chandon July Festival – day one Thursday
The Moët & Chandon July Festival at HQ Newmarket takes centre stage for the next three days. It’s Ladies Day on Thursday and it’s a fair card.
The Group Three Bahrain Trophy Stakes gets the meeting underway at 1.50 over the 1m5f trip. Giuseppe Garibaldi has been progressing steadily for Aidan O’Brien, having finished third in the G.2 King Edward VII and second in the G.2 Curragh Cup last time out – good ride by Ryan Moore on the winner Flag Of Honour kicking for home off the turn a nicking a length or two. The Galileo colt is one that we know will see out the trip. I put up Wells Farhh Go in the King Edward VII where he was sixth staying on to be nearest at the finish. If he settles he’d go close but has raced keenly the last two starts. The well thought of First Eleven makes the leap from handicap company. He looked an unlucky loser in the King George V Stakes at Ascot and should prove up to this level at some point. Charlie Appleby steps Loxley up in class and trip the colt having won two of his three starts to date with his sole defeat coming in the G.1 Racing Post Trophy. I was impressed with the way he won a novice event here over 1m2f three weeks ago and I think the colt is open to plenty of improvement after only three runs with his trainer expecting the step up in trip to bring on further improvement. Grab 7-2.
They go over six furlongs for the Group Two Arqana July Stakes at 2.25. The John Gosden trained impressive Yarmouth winner Legends Of War takes to the track for the second time having missed the planned engagement in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot. He looked a very good prospect at Yarmouth and should prove good enough to take this prize at 9-4. The main danger may prove to be Martyn Meade’s Advertise the colt having been second in the G.2 Coventry to Legends Of War’s stablemate Calyx.
The Group Two Princess Of Wales's Arqana Racing Club Stakes at 3.35 over the mile-and-a-half is quite a tricky affair for punters as you could make a case for all eight that line-up! I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb but have decided not to bet.
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