Two Group 2 races take place at Newmarket as the July Festival day 1 card gets underway at the Headquarters of the British Flat on Thursday, 10th July. These are the July Stakes for juvenile colts and geldings and the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes over a mile-and-a-half.
Supporting the action from the July Course in Suffolk is another of the recognised St Leger trials in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy. After a Heritage Handicap for three-year-old sprinters, later on the card there’s Listed action featuring horses in the same age bracket in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over the Bunbury Mile.
Taking place just three weeks after Royal Ascot was in full swing, some Newmarket field sizes suffer. This is due to the proximity of Group racing for two-year-olds at the big summer gala, plus events like the Queen’s Vase and Hardwicke Stakes.
We can only deal with what is running on Newmarket July Festival day 1 here, though, and that’s precisely what our horse racing experts do. They delve into the form book in search of value and winners, so you can see their thoughts below.
By checking the odds from horse racing betting sites besides what contenders managed on the track previously, they build up a picture of the runners to follow. With that in mind, let’s see what our experts’ selections are and why.
Newmarket July Festival Day 1 2025 Preview for Thursday, 10th July
1:50 – 1m 5f Group 3 Bahrain Trophy
Ballydoyle always have a runner in this St Leger trial and Aidan O’Brien fits first-time cheekpieces on their latest. There isn’t much between Scandinavia and Furthur in truth, but the sixth and seventh Hallelujah U and Titanium Emperor have more to find.
Away from the Queen’s Vase, Richard Hannon talked up Derby eighth Nightime Dancer as a possible Leger horse. He was never on terms at Epsom, but this is a drop in grade and he’s shaped like he may well get further now pitched into a trappy contest.
2:25 – 6f Group 2 July Stakes
An 11th win for Aidan O’Brien in this race 👏
GSTAAD is an emphatic winner of the Coventry Stakes 🏆#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/Bh10jyaUpv
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 17, 2025
Do Or Do Not faces unbeaten opposition, however, in Coolmore’s once-raced Brussels over from Ireland. He has a big reputation like many trained in Ballydoyle. On official ratings, which in truth aren’t much good at gauging the rate at which two-year-olds improve, the selection has plenty in hand over Godolphin’s Maximized.
This is a home game for Charlie Appleby, though, and the Woodcote winner from Epsom now steps up into Pattern company after landing both of his first two starts nicely. Maximized could pose the biggest threat to Do Or Do Not, while the other three require steps forward here.
3:00 – 6f Heritage Handicap
ADRESTIA takes the last race of the day for @oismurphy, @SimonCrisford, and @edcrisford in The Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes. Congratulations to the connections! pic.twitter.com/8VxTmQiOiT
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2025
Recent editions of this three-year-olds only sprint handicap on Newmarket July Festival day 1 have gone to horses lower in the weights. As a result, topweight Invictus Gold looks badly handicapped despite his fine record at Headquarters.
Ryan Moore’s mount Hucklesbrook may also have it all to do to confirm Leicester and York form with a number of re-opposing rivals after going up 15lb for those consecutive wins. He has clearly been ahead of the assessor, though, but they may be catching up with him.
At bigger prices, meanwhile, cases can be made for Prince Of India (12lb better off for a length defeat from Leicester) and Crestofdistinction (fifth in the same race and 9lb better off with Hucklesbrook, but 10lb well-in after bolting up on the All-Weather). York third and fifth Double Rush and American Style (both 8lb) aren’t out of it either.
Away from form tying in with Roger Teal’s runner, however, is Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes fourth ZAYER, who continues to shape over the minimum trip like an extra furlong should suit. He should improve for tackling further for Archie Watson. Zayer can confirm Royal Ascot form with Realign.
Rowley Mile distance winner Marchiogon and Tawasol need further improvement, especially as the latter’s Doncaster form has taken plenty of knocks. Arabian Sun is another last time out victor, but has something to find with his old Leicester foes off the revised terms just like Hucklesbrook.
3:35 – 1m 4f Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes
Palladium will have appreciated any weekend rain that got into the ground. New connections of Ghostwriter seem determined to make him into a mile-and-a-half horse, but he’s yet to prove him stamina. Similar comments apply to James Owen’s three-year-old Wimbledon Hawkeye.
It’s interesting that Godolphin and Appleby have a couple here. While Arabian Crown could well make the running, Rowley Mile course mile-and-a-half handicap winner El Cordobes drops back in trip after not staying further around York.
His spring success has been franked by the runner-up French Master landing his next two including the Copper Horse during Royal Ascot. With William Buick choosing El Cordobes from connections’ pair, that could be a tip in itself.
4:45 – Listed 1m Sir Henry Cecil Stakes
🔵 A smart performance from Opera Ballo to land the @StarSports_Bet Heron Stakes for team @godolphin pic.twitter.com/AV5KoGGPLx
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) May 29, 2025
Buick keeps the faith and the runner-up filled the same spot in a French Group 2 next time, franking the form. Opera Ballo could easily be better than this level if he learns to settle. Godolphin’s other runner, Arabian Story, landed the Britannia Stakes at the Royal meeting on his turf debut.
He just did enough for Saeed bin Suroor, so now steps out of handicaps following a 6lb rise. Oisin Murphy now rides for the Andrew Balding stable against Arabian Story instead, however. Ratings topper King Of Cities for the Hannon yard is a difficult horse to assess, meanwhile, after his ninth in the French Derby over much further.
5:20 – 1m Class 3 Handicap (0-95)
Another win for @godolphin – this time it’s ARABIAN STORY who takes The Britannia Stakes, with @oismurphy aboard for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. pic.twitter.com/X3DbCwylW5
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2025
The least exposed horse in the concluding race on Newmarket July Festival day 1 is Michael Bell’s PAROLE D’ORO. He got denied a clear run as so many do in big field Royal Ascot handicaps. Off an unchanged mark of 92 after the Britannia Stakes and receiving 9lb weight for age from his elders, Parole D’Oro is worth another go.
Course form is always a plus at this venue, meanwhile, so that means Stuart Williams inmate Where’s Freddy and Charlie Johnston veteran Dutch Decoy are worth closer inspection on the pick of their form. Great Acclaim finished ahead of Cogitate over 7f here last time as well.
Eve Johnson Houghton trains the former and he might have more to offer tackling another furlong. Of Hannon’s pair, Boyfriend looks on the up. He duly scored after a head defeat to subsequent Royal Hunt Cup hero My Cloud at Newbury. A 2lb rise for Nottingham success looks fair.
