Architect has seven tips for the first day of the July Festival at Newmarket.
13:50 Newmarket
This is a meeting where we often see Charlie Appleby, William Buick, and Godolphin’s prowess come to the fore, and they could get the fixture off to a flyer with Group 1 winner ANCIENT WISDOM (best price 11/10), who has a serious chance of lifting the opening Bahrain Trophy.
Having been sent off as the 6/1 joint-third favourite for the Derby at Epsom, the son of Dubawi could fare no better than eighth. However, this is a huge drop in grade, and his connections have won two of the last three renewals with Yibir (2021) and Castle Way (2023).
It would be fair to say Ancient Wisdom is classier than the pair, and the fact that he is the only course and Group 1 winner in the field does give him an advantage over the others, let alone his rating. He is clear of these on the figures rated 114, with Space Legend rated 6lb inferior at 108 and the other two challengers at 105 apiece.
The step-up in trip is the only question mark against him, but I put my trust in Charlie Appleby, who rarely gets it wrong on such an occasion. This three-year-old is the class act in the race and is strongly fancied to make the most of the fine opportunity he’s been granted.
Ancient Wisdom, 1.5pts WIN, 11/10
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14:25 Newmarket
Kevin Ryan’s Ain’t Nobody looked good when stylishly making it two wins from two starts in the Windsor Castle. However, the Coventry Stakes form generally stands up well for this race, and the runner-up, ELECTROLYTE (best price 9/2), who came within a whisker of success, can go one place better here.
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 at the Berkshire venue. Irish raider Whistlejacket and Aomori City deserve respect, but the former looks like a sure-fire improver.
The ground that Watson’s participant covered inside the final furlong to nearly take the spoils left the impression that there's a lot more under the bonnet. With further progress likely, this son of Hello Youmzain can hopefully deliver the knockout blow and provide Wathnan and Doyle with another big-race success.
15:00 Newmarket
Andrew Balding is no stranger to winning this race, and despite needing a personal best to come out on top, there’s plenty to like about the chances of his candidate, IMPERIAL GUARD (best price 13/2) who should have a lot more to come after just two starts on the grass.
This son of Night Of Thunder made the frame in his first couple of starts at Kempton behind winners who are now rated 100+. He confirmed that initial promise to comfortably open his account at the same venue next time out, relishing the drop to 6f for the first time.
He returned a beaten favourite when last of three next time out but has subsequently shown encouraging signs in a pair of starts on the turf and caught the eye in a hot handicap at York last time out when staying on strongly to finish fifth of 17.
Given that he was slow to break and was hampered early on, the impression he left suggested he could be ahead of the assessor. Eligible to compete off a 1lb lower mark this time, with Hayley Turner doing the low weight, he makes plenty of appeal with four places available.
I’m very interested in the claims of THUNDER BLUE (best price 16/1) who has become dangerously well handicapped and acquitted himself very well off a 2lb higher mark when ninth of 28 in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes last time out.
There were plenty of positives to draw from his stable debut effort for Jamie Osborne last time out. What’s really interesting about his prospects, though, is that he returns to Newmarket for the first time since finishing fourth in the Group 2 July Stakes over C&D at this meeting last year.
Before that, he finished a very solid fifth in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and was unlucky not to be closer, having been badly hampered a furlong from the finish. I’m convinced he is thrown in here off 88, as his best form would entitle him to be going close.
Take advantage of the four places that are generally available.
15:35 Newmarket
Hamish lost nothing in defeat when second in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and is the one to beat back down in class. That being said, I’m expecting an improved display from last year’s St Leger runner-up ARREST (best price 7/2) who finished second in the Ormonde Stakes last time out.
This dual Group 3 winner at three concluded last season with an excellent second at Doncaster on soft ground and looked badly in need of the run on his return at Newbury when only seventh to Hamish. He couldn’t get to grips with Point Lonsdale at Chester subsequently, but he shaped quite well in defeat.
He is likely to have come forward from that run, and this galloping track might play more to his strengths. Israr landed the spoils for John and Thady Gosden twelve months ago, and this well-rounded specimen of a four-year-old should be equipped to make a bold bid to get back on the scoresheet with the arrival of rain aiding his cause.
16:45 Newmarket
LEAD ARTIST (best price 2/1) created a deep impression when off the mark at the second time of asking at York last time out, building on his encouraging debut second in a quick time and is well worth a crack at this higher level.
His performance on the Knavesmire was backed up by the clock as he recorded a quicker time than Devoted Queen, who was an impressive winner of a Listed race earlier on the card. This suggests we could easily be dealing with a pattern-class performer.
All of her opponents are worthy of respect, but I think this is where we see the ball starting to roll for the Shoemark/Gosden partnership, and the return to a mile looks sure to suit. This son of Dubawi can rise to the occasion and lay down a marker ahead of the Celebration Mile next month.
17:20 Newmarket
In the final race on the card, the top-weight TEMPUS (best price 12/1) could be difficult to beat. Archie Watson’s charge won twice in Group company in 2022, and, despite being a little disappointing since finishing second in a Listed race at Kempton, he could be competitive with his sights lowered.
This will be his first start at this level in over four years, and his last win saw him beat the 111-rated Modern News in a Group 3 race. That form is head and shoulders above what anything else has achieved, and he went close in his only previous visit to Newmarket in a Group 2 race when he finished third.
The eight-year-old was rated as high as 117 two years ago and has consequently fallen to a mark of 94, which is well within his ability, as he finished seventh in last season’s Hunt Cup off a mark of 109. With plenty in his favour, he’s dangerous to dismiss.
