After a brief break, Four To Follow is back, with three days of fantastic racing to be had at Newmarket’s beautiful July course.
Day One sees the favourites holding all the aces.
Answer a Prayer
13:50 – Bahrain Trophy (Group Three) – Saint George @ 11/4 (Unibet)
Over at the ‘The Top Three’, Ash has stuck with the favourite.
However, this is the first race that really will test the form. And with Gregory been given an entry in the Goodwood Cup, it seems that the top six may become group horses out of it. It looks positive.
We know that he gets his staying power out of his dam’s side, and Roaring Lion has had a 13% strike rate of progeny winners this season.
Tower Of London, faces a steep rise in rating, whilst we know that Saint George can perform at this level, and that’s why he’s my pick.
Summer Breeze
14:25 – July Stakes (Group Two) – Purosangue @ 9/4 (Unibet)
I first came across this Andrew Balding colt when having a peruse one evening, and found out that I knew this horses mother.
Avon Breeze ran for the Whitaker stable, who my family still own horses with, and was a fantastic edition to the stable.
She wasn’t a filly that performed at the top level, but she did win a class two handicap at Ripon in 2016. Her daughter Liberty Breeze also runs for the Whitaker’s, and is having a good season so far.
I watched Purosangue’s debut and thought that he was a smart horse, and won with plenty in hand. This horse seems to be heading in the right direction, and can prove his class for the Balding team.
Height Of July
15:00 – bet365 Heritage H’cap – Washington Heights @ 5/1 (General)
Sooner or later, this horse has to win a race. He’s got closer to the winning line with each run, being denied by a head on his last run at York.
He finished second to the now-Group One winner Shaquille at the start of the season, and downed twice by Quinault.
Firm ground seems to be his preference, which puts me in a difficult position. We won’t’ know how the ground is performing until the first race, because the Newmarket grounds-team are irrigating tonight.
The ground is officially good to firm at time of writing, but whether it’ll stay that way is an unknown.
But a big plus for this horse is the booking of Ryan Moore, who has to be the best jockey in the world. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a jockey with a 41% strike rate.
Eminency is the each-way appeal in the race for me.
She finished fourth in the same York sprint handicap as Washington Heights, and has only been raised a pound. Once again, ground will be a concern if it’s not firmer ground, but as explained in the first selection, we’re playing the waiting game.
Cheeckpieces are on for the first time, which I always see as a positive, and John Fahy and Clive Cox are both just starting to turn the formbook heading into July. Nice bet at 10/1 (General)
One for the Acca
15:40 – Princess of Wales’s Stakes (Group Two) – Adayar @ 1/2 (Boylesports, 10Bet)
It’s a simple equation really. One is rated nine pounds better than the next best, dropping a grade below, and only has four runners to contend with.
Israr is the clear threat, but Israr hasn’t performed at Group Two level, let alone win. In fact he hasn’t won a class one race yet, which puts Adayar in the driving seat.
Adayar is definitely one for the multiples, and a banker on day one of the July meeting.
The very best of luck!
