Headlines

There could be a huge blow on the horizon for Irish racing as Sky Sports and Racing TV have threatened to pull the plug on their coverage due to the new Gambling Regulation Bill — which would see betting ads banned between 5:30am and 9pm.

Connections of red-hot July Cup favourite Shaquille say they have been inundated with phone calls from jockeys desperate to pick up the ride. Oisin Murphy was due to get the leg up, but his suspension ruled him out and the ideal scenario for the owners is Little Big Bear is withdrawn so they could swoop in for Ryan Moore.

Hollie Doyle’s fine form continued yesterday as she followed up Monday’s four-timer at Chepstow with a hattrick at Lingfield, two of which were fancied at 8/1 and 9/1 respectively.

July Festival day one

I’ll add a section into the newsletter for the July Festival at Newmarket for the rest of the week.

It’s not often I oppose an Aidan O’Brien horse, especially when Ryan Moore is in the saddle. I didn’t mind the look of Tower Of London in the Group 3 Trophy Stakes (13:50) last night/this morning when he was about 7/4, but now he’s 10/11, I’m starting to like Saint George (3/1) a lot more.

Indeed, O’Brien’s horse won a handicap with ease lto and is a Listed winner at Leopardstown, but this is step up in grade and Saint George ran admirably to finish second in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last month. On that basis, I’d have to side with Balding’s horse.

I also like the look of Malc (4/1) in the Group 2 July Stakes (14:25). The 140,000gns 2YO purchase by MPR won over 5f on debut and was second from 66/1 in the G2 Norfolk at Royal Ascot lto. If he can improve further on that then he’s in with a decent chance up a furlong today.

My third and final pick for day one is Imperial Emperor at 2/1 in the 16:45. Charlie Appleby needs to have a big week and William Buick might just have found form at the right time for Godolphin as he is currently operating off a strike rate of 32% and has picked up three wins in the last couple of days.

The unbeaten Imperial Emperor has won both his races over this distance at Newmarket, with his most recent victory on reappearance coming by almost three lengths under James Doyle on the July course and he is shaping up to potentially by a group horse. Nostrum was third when last seen in the Dewhurst last October and is the biggest danger.

One to watch

Ok. I must admit. If there’s one section of the newsletter that hasn’t fired as well this week, it’s the one to watch section, but hopefully we can change that with a couple of juvenile winners today.

The first of which is Free Nation (2/1) in the 15:10 at Doncaster. He was beaten by less than a length on debut at Windsor last month and sets a good standard here. That experience will also hopefully be enough to hold off 250,000gns newcomer and second favourite Point Given.

My second pick is Mapmaker at 11/8 in the 6:40 at Newbury. She had a decent start to her career, coming third on debut before winning a class 5 maiden fillies here next time out. The Amo horse wasn’t up to the task in the Albany, coming second last as her 50/1 odds suggested, but she’s back down in class here and can win under a penalty against this weaker opposition.

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Newsletter exclusive tip

I’ve covered a lot of ground to this point, so there is just one newsletter exclusive today and it’s The Folkes Tiara (11/8) in the 15:15 at Downpatrick. The P2P winner has hit the bar so many times, with three seconds and a fourth in four maiden hurdles, but this could be the chance for the Henry de Bromhead horse to get off the mark under Rachael Blackmore.