The first day of the Newmarket July Festival is upon us, and while some of the fields are on the small side, there are some competitive races to try and work out.
This article highlights four selections to follow for Thursday’s action, including 12/1 and 11/1 each-way selections
Let’s dive in.
Newmarket July Festival Day 1 Selections
1:50 Newmarket – Nightime Dancer @ 7/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
Embed from Getty ImagesI initially found the Bahrain Trophy a difficult race to work out, but at the 11th hour, I’ve come around to the idea of Nightime Dancer for Richard Hannon.
He’s the only horse in this race who didn’t run in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase last time out, which is an interesting angle, and the last race he tried was this year’s Epsom Derby.
I was actually a critic of the Derby this year in the immediate aftermath, as I wasn’t sure if the piece of form was worth following, but it has somewhat proven me wrong.
Lambourn, the winner, has won the Irish Derby, Lazy Griff, the third, placed in the Irish Derby, and Tornado Alert, the sixth, has finished second in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes.
Even Delacroix, the ninth, and The Lion In Winter, the 14th, have returned back to their best after disappointing in the Derby.
Furthermore, watching the Derby back, Nightime Dancer stayed on nicely from the rear of the field in a race that didn’t suit the hold-up horses too much. Only he, Tennessee Stud, New Ground, and Stanhope Gardens somewhat threatened the runaway winner.
In what is a pretty open race, this step up in trip looks to be the right move, so Nightime Dancer is the horse to be with.
2:25 Newmarket – Comical Point @ 12/1 with William Hill (2 places) – 0.5pt EW
Embed from Getty ImagesMaximised is a worthy favourite, and based on his Woodcote success over Havana Hurricane, he does look like a strong contender, but Comical Point was one of my eye-catchers from Royal Ascot, so I have to keep him on side.
The Blue Point juvenile shaped nicely behind Charles Darwin, the so-called Ballydoyle certainty of Royal Ascot, in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes from the wrong side of the track.
Charles Darwin, Sandal’s Song, Wise Approach, and Ameeq were all positioned fairly close to the near side at the finish, even though the latter three were drawn fairly low, while Comical Point stayed on down the far side of the pack.
Therefore, his performance can be upgraded, and this step up in trip could eek out some further improvement. He has quite a speedy family, but he showed potential that six furlongs could suit based on his Ascot performance.
At the prices, Comical Point is worth covering.
3:35 Newmarket – Ghostwriter @ 6/4 with William Hill – 2pt Win
Embed from Getty ImagesAlthough Kia Joorabchian’s son was the main reason behind his recent purchase, Ghostwriter has a great chance of getting off the mark for Amo Racing in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes on Thursday.
The Invincible Spirit colt has some proper form in the book, despite his lack of a race win since September 2023.
He chased home City Of Troy twice last year, and he also split Calandagan (Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner) and Bluestocking (Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner) in the Juddmonte International at York.
When you also consider his fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes, fourth in the 2000 Guineas, and fourth in the Dubai Turf, it’s fair to say that Ghostwriter has the best form in the book.
His first try at 1m4f in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes was more than fine, as he stayed on through the line behind the ultra-game Rebel’s Romance and solid AL Riffa.
A repeat of that run would see him go very close here, and while I do respect Wimbledon Hawkeye due to his big weight allowance from his elders, I wasn’t overly sold on just how game he was in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes.
For that reason, Ghostwriter gets my vote.
5:20 Newmarket – Cogitate @ 11/1 General (4 places) – 0.5pt EW
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd finally, although this horse definitely sits on my ‘cliff horses’ list, I can’t leave Cogitate alone just two runs after his first win in nearly two years.
I’ve had the distinct displeasure of backing this horse three times in the last 12 months, and the time he finally obliged happened to be the occasion when I didn’t have a single penny on.
Still, positives can be taken from his Salisbury win two starts ago as he looked quite stylish under Billy Loughnane, though that was a Class 4 handicap. Sky Safari, the second, has won a Kempton handicap since, franking the form.
His next start saw him race on the Newmarket July Course in a seven-furlong handicap, and that was a fine effort over a trip that was potentially too sharp.
The booking of William Buick is notable, and he has a nice piece of form from Kempton alongside Roi De France, Popmaster, Fantastic Fox, and Hafeet Alain.
There’s a good chance he is still better than his mark of 89 based on his second to Night Raider (rated 111) at Southwell in March 2024 and his win over Boiling Point (rated 105) in July 2023.
