THE Newmarket July Festival gets going on Thursday. Our racing man Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) focuses on two races.
14:10 Newmarket | Channel 4
The Bahrain Trophy is over 1 mile 5 furlongs and can be a pointer for the seasons final classic. A field of nine line up and it looks a decent renewal.
Housesofparliment is not one of Aidan O'Briens superstars but he is a talented colt who ran a career best at Royal Ascot and trouble in running makes it better than his finishing position suggests too. He has the form to go close but I'm looking elsewhere.
Shabeeb has won his last two starts and despite him taking a huge step up in class here he is of interest. He won with plenty in hand last time out however he needs further improvement to get competitive and I don't think he will keep his winning run going here.
I really like the favourite here the Godolphin inmate Prize Money. Runner up on his last three starts he's been well fancied on each occasion and last time out was second to subsequent Eclipse winner Hawkbill. He was clear of the third that day and despite the step up in trip and unknown he shapes like he will stay and I think he's a good bet here.
14:40 Newmarket | Channel 4
The July Stakes is the big 2 year old race of the meeting and this looks a decent little race with plenty of Royal Ascot form on offer. The ground here is very different from then but I think the race revolves around one horse.
Ardad only seen the racetrack a month ago winning a Yarmouth maiden then followed up a week later when an impressive winner of the Windsor Castle.
He is clearly a very good young colt however the form of that race looks suspect with the placed horses starting at huge odds and the fancied runners all bombed out. He may be up to this but I feel he has to improve again.
Intelligence Cross represents Ballydoyle here and this maiden winner is a typically well bred colt who is likely to progress further. He's well related and has to be respected however this is a good race and I think this may be too early for him however he is a horse of potential.
Mehmas was second in the Coventry winning the race on his side of the track and he can pay a huge compliment to the winner Carravagio by winning this.
He will handle the ground and if Carravagio hadn't turned up in the Coventry he'd be coming here a two and a half length winner of a good Coventry Stakes and would be odds on here. I think he will be very difficult to beat here and I expect him to win.
Best Bets
14:10 Newmarket – Prize Money to win (11/4 Betway)
14:40 Newmarket – Mehmas to win (9/4 Bet365)
