JPRacing - July Festival day two

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Nine runners were declared for the July Cup on Saturday, with Little Big Bear keeping his entry despite fitness concerns and Rossa Ryan being booked to ride favourite Shaquille the two big talking points.

Adayar was turned over at 1/3 on in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes yesterday as Shadwell’s Israr powered clear to win with ease under Jim Crowley.

Nostrum was probably the most exciting performer of the day though, reappearing for the first time since finishing third in the Dewhurst last October with a bang to win the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes in emphatic fashion under Moore.

There was a 150/1 winner in the bumper at Downpatrick yesterday as Feast won by a nose from Fathom Two to gift Anna McGuinness the first winner of her career.

The Gosdens have confirmed that Emily Upjohn is on course to feature in the King George at Ascot later this month after her close encounter with Paddington in the Eclipse last week. She’s third favourite at 9/2 behind Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel.

Speaking of the Gosdens, Soul Sister is due to run in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp this evening. It’s hard to really know what to expect from the Oaks winner given that her Classic success wasn’t that impressive and that it has been 74 years since a filly won this race. I probably won’t be touching her at 11/10.

July Festival day two

It’s day two of the July Festival and surely things can only get better after yesterday’s showing! Not a lot stands out to me though and I’m not a big fan of this meeting in general if I’m honest. I do have a couple of selections still though.

The first is Live Your Dream at 9/4 in the bet365 Trophy at 15:00. The Saeed Bin Suroor horse won this race two years ago under Oisin Murphy. He is 10lb heavier today than he was that day, but a third-place finish in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot could prove he has it in him off this mark.

He’s placed in both of his outings over 1m4f this season and performed well over long distances in 2021, so could have a big run in him under Kevin Stott today.

My other pick in today’s feature, the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at 15:35. Via Sistina is the favourite at 6/4 after winning the top-level Pretty Polly at the Curragh at the beginning of the month, but I’m siding with 9/2 chance Remarquee.

The Ralph Beckett filly was a commendable second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot lto and there’s hope that she can improve further on that performance and get a G1 victory today.

One to watch

Sticking at Newmarket for today’s one to watch, there are a few good-looking juveniles in this 16:10 Maiden — but the verdict is with Godolphin’s Emperor’s Star at 15/8.

The two-year-old was a 300,000 euro yearling and is out of Sea The Stars. He has big credentials on debut, but is respected and Charlie Appleby has a good record in this Maiden Stakes.

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Newsletter exclusive tips

I’ve found a lot of my newsletter exclusives have come from the world of jumps recently, but they keep winning so why stop now? I have two more going over obstacles today.

The first is Sherodan at 6/4 in the 17:15 at Cork. He won a Bumper on debut back in July 2021 and was second next time out the following month, but wasn’t seen again until May of this year when he was second in Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe. That was a solid debut and he’s in with a chance in this tougher field today.

The other is The Friday Man (11/10) in the 19:20 Beginners’ Chase at Kilbeggan. He’s taken to fences well this summer, finishing third at Down Royal and second at Limerick back in May. That experience sets him in good stead and today is a great opportunity for him to get off the mark for Gordon Elliott under Jack Kennedy.