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Day 2 Newmarket July Festival Preview: Time For Mighty Eriu To Break Her Maiden Tag

The second day of the July Festival meeting at Newmarket sees another competitive card. The feature is the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes for the fillies and mares, where I think the three-year-olds might just edge it.
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1.50 Newmarket – Royal Power (Win)

I might be boring, siding with the favourite Royal Power, but he does look like a potential group horse in a handicap. He is very lightly raced, having only three starts, and this will be his handicap debut.

The son of Frankel was last seen finishing third in a Listed race at Goodwood, where he didn’t get the smoothest of passages. The form has worked out well as the second Space Legend placed in Group 2 company. I just think a mark of 100 could be workable for him, and he’s the type of horse that Charlie Appleby does well with. I think he’ll have a touch of class that the opposition will lack.

2.25 Newmarket – Mighty Eriu (Win)

There are quite a few different strands of form to go on, but I think the step up to 6f could be key for Mighty Eriu. She flew home to finish second in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, suggesting that 6f should be right up her street. She is yet to win after finishing second in both of her career starts, but her form reads well. Moreover, if there is a bit of ease in the ground, it shouldn’t phase her, as she is by Inns Of Court, who went well on soft ground. I can see her stepping forward and breaking her maiden tag here.

3.00 Newmarket – Tenerife Sunshine (Each Way)

Cases can be made for plenty in the field, but my eye is drawn to Tenerife Sunshine. I don’t think he ran too badly when he finished eighth at Royal Ascot last month in the Ascot Stakes, which was over 2m4f. I think dropping back down in distance to 1m6f will be a better fit as he’s a typical Johnson galloper. He’s still only a four-year-old, and he could have more improvement to come off his mark of 86. 

3.35 Newmarket – Jabaara (Win)

I might be going a bit rogue here, but Jabaara is an interesting horse for Roger Varian. She’s been progressing well, winning her last two starts at Listed company. It will be a huge step up, but I’ve been impressed with her each time, and her turn of foot has been electric. Also, she’ll be in receipt of the three-year-old weight for age allowance, which will make a difference.

Roger Varian did well with a filly last year called Al Husn, who had a similar profile and went on to win a Group 1. I wouldn’t be surprised if she achieved a similar feat here.

4.10 Newmarket – Feat Of Gold (Win)

There are plenty of horses that could go on to big things, but I really liked the performance of Feat Of Gold at Doncaster last month. I think it was a hot race, as there were some exciting two-year-olds from some powerhouse stables, so it’s worth following. He ended up finishing third in that race after receiving a lot of market support, but he probably just needed the experience after being a bit green in the final furlong. John and Thady Gosden’s juveniles tend to come on for the run, and I’d expect him to build on that here.

4.45 Newmarket – Waiting All Night (Each Way)

This horse has been a little frustrating for connections, as he’s not won since his racecourse debut at Wolverhampton. However, the last time we saw him, he was a real eye-catcher when finishing second at Newmarket over this course and distance. I think a strongly run 7f is exactly what he needs, and it looks like he will get it here. It’s also interesting to see that Richard Spencer has gone to the trouble of booking Ryan Moore, so they must think a big run is on the cards. I think this could be his day to get back in the winning groove.

5.20 Newmarket – Isle Of Lismore (Each Way)

Isle Of Lismore ran better than the bare result at Windsor last time out. Kieran Shoemark lost his irons that day, and he was up against it early on, so he did well to be beaten by just over three lengths. That race has worked out well as it has produced a few winners, so it’s one to look at closely. The six-year-old gelding likes it at Newmarket, and he finished second in this race last year. At the time of writing, he is 9/1, and at the price, I think he’s worth a poke each way.

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The second day of the July Festival meeting at Newmarket sees another competitive card. The feature is the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes for the fillies and mares, where I think the three-year-olds might just edge it.
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