Best bets for the horse racing at the July meeting Newmarket this weekend

It’s another weekend in which there is plenty to enjoy but I have to admit I am all in at Newmarket and the July Festival as Treasure Time, the three-year-old gelding I hold a handful of shares in with RaceShare runs. I also have a couple of other fancies on the card. 

Best bets for the horse racing at Newmarket

Treasure Time runs in the Bet365 Mile Handicap at HQ due off at 2.50 after he couldn’t run at Haydock last weekend with racing on the round course there abandoned. This is a step-up in trip and in class but he won here at Newmarket last time over seven, remains open to improvement, and is towards the bottom of the handicap with a mark of 81. With that in mind Marco Ghiani takes over in the saddle with Cieren Fallon injured and Tom Marquand unable to do the weight of 8-5. I have mentioned before how his siblings have progressed with age and racing so there is every reason to believe he can leave his current mark behind as the season progresses. Everyone at Somerville Lodge appear happy with Treasure Time and to give the new trip and step-up in class a go and a decent run is expected. With a field of fourteen, two have been taken out Friday afternoon sadly, he can be backed each-way (⅕th 4 places) and I have some of the 10-1 overnight. Qirat owned by Juddmonte and First Conquest in the Godolphin colours are the biggest dangers and I don’t mind admitting writing about a horse I have a handful of shares in being in the same race as Juddmonte and Godolphin runners does feel a little surreal.

The 7f Group Two Bet365 Superlative Stakes can go to Ancient Truth. A winner here at Newmarket over six on the Rowley Mile and this track and trip already this season the son of Dubawi looks a solid bet. He won here in June a shade cosily, and with improvement likely the colt can gain his first black-type here before competing in G.1’s come the autumn. I am on at 13-8 overnight. Charlie Appleby told the Godolphin website “We have been delighted with Ancient Truth so far and he looks to have strengthened since his last start. This is a path that we have trodden before and he goes into the race in good shape.”

The 6f Group One My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes at 4.35 is the race of the day. One of the Dirty Dozen in the shape of Vandeek lines-up. Third in the G.3 Sandy Lane Stakes on his seasonal debut he missed the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting due to a blood disorder but appeared back to his best in a recent gallop reportedly leaving his lead horse eight lengths behind in a five-furlong workout under his big-race jockey James Doyle. He was head and shoulders above the rest at two and if he has regained the magic of last season the 7-2 I have overnight might look generous by 4.40! Inisherin heads the market having won the G.1 Commonwealth Cup nicely, also won the Sandy Lane Stakes in which Vandeek was third, so is an obvious danger.

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