The feature of Newmarket's three-day festival could see Vandeek bid to reverse the form on Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin.
Newmarket’s July Festival is billed as being one of the main fixtures in the summer, headlined by the July Cup on Saturday.
This quirky but unique course has historically attracted some of the best horses of the current season and this year’s meeting looks like no exception.
July Festival 2024 Dates
Newmarket’s July Festival is a three-day meeting, and this year it will take place from Thursday 11th July to Saturday 13th July.
The first two days will begin at 13.50, with the concluding race on each day being at 17.20. On the third and final day, the opening race is scheduled for 13.40, with the finale coming at 17.10!
Rashabar (7/2 for the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes), Porta Fortuna (6/4 for the Falmouth), and Inisherin (9/4 for the July Cup) - all successful at the Royal meeting last month - are expected to be in action.
With that being said, let’s take a look at a few key runners who you may want to keep an eye on later this week.
To back Inisherin to win the July Cup directly through oddschecker at a guaranteed best price (currently with Ladbrokes), click here.
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July Festival Runners
Electrolyte - Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes (Thursday)
Royal Ascot winners Ain’t Nobody and Rashabar are on course to meet in Thursday’s Group 2 contest, but the one horse who could improve past both of them is Coventry Stakes runner-up ELECTROLYTE.
Known for his poignant success with his two-year-olds, Archie Watson’s promising prospect stepped up markedly from his easy debut win at Ayr to run a screamer when narrowly denied by Brian Meehan’s Rashabar and might be able to advance his form at HQ.
The reopposing Columnist, who sports the same ownership, was only a head behind the former, but the ground in which Watson’s participant covered inside the final furlong to nearly take the spoils left the impression there's more under the bonnet.
Hamish - Princess Of Wales's Stakes (Thursday)
Giavellotto is a worthy participant, having recorded back-to-back wins in the Yorkshire Cup last time out. He will do well to concede 3lb to HAMISH, though, who arrives on the back of an excellent runner-up effort behind Luxembourg in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
William Haggas’ eight-year-old has continued to prove that age is just a number, and his record over 1m4f on the turf is remarkable, reading 121112. He’s at the peak of his powers right now, and his latest performance can be upgraded as the winner was granted a soft lead.
Porta Fortuna - Falmouth Stakes (Friday)
In what looked like an extremely deep renewal of the Coronation Stakes, with the first three home in the 1000 Guineas renewing rivalry, it was Donnacha O’Brien’s PORTA FORTUNA who went one place better than she did at Newmarket.
Having been tactically positioned well throughout, the likes of Elmalka and Ramatuelle had no answer to the acceleration she displayed, recording her second win at Royal Ascot and her third at the highest level.
All of her best has come on a quick surface, but she is a heavy-ground winner on debut, and the level of competition looks transparently thinner this time. She brings by far the strongest form to the table and cannot be opposed.
Inisherin - July Cup (Saturday)
All eyes will be on favourite INISHERIN in the feature race, having ended Vandeek’s unbeaten record at Haydock in the Sandy Lane Stakes before raising his game again to take top-level spoils at Royal Ascot when last spotted.
Kevin Ryan’s high-class performer beat the reopposing Vandeek fair and square, relishing the drop-in trip before proving that success to be no fluke when registering an effortless two-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Commonwealth Cup.
It was hard not to be impressed with the way he cruised into the lead two furlongs from the finish before quickening away to score with plenty in hand. On paper, this is a tougher race, but his raw talent, resilience, and courage will make him hard to beat.
July Festival Betting Tips
The form of the Coventry Stakes each season tends to be a useful guide towards the July Stakes, and I’m pinning my hopes on ELECTROLYTE (best price on bet365) to turn the tables on Brian Meehan’s Rashabar and emerge victorious.
An easy winner on debut at Ayr, Archie Watson’s impressive-looking two-year-old made relentless progress to finish second to the winner last time out, and should he be ridden closer to the pace on this occasion, there’s every chance of him reversing the form.
