Newmarket July Festival 2010

Full marks to Newmarket racecourses for giving concessions on all admission prices to all enclosures for all their meetings including the July Festival which starts on Wednesday 7th.

The Wednesday is called the Abu Dhabi Day where the feature race will be the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes, a Group 1 run over 1 mile for three year old and above fillies. Khalid Abdulla is having a wonderful season with his horses. Workforce, Byword, Twice Over and Special Duty to name a few. Special Duty comes over from France again for this and will take a lot of beating. Tom Queally takes the ride as regular partner Christophe Lemaire has broken his leg. Lillie Langtry was impressive at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes as was Rainfall in the Jersey Stakes. This was only Rainfall’s third racecourse appearance and with Frankie Dettori on board could be the each way value.

Thursday is Champagne Lanson Ladies Day and the feature race here will be the Princess of Wales sportingbet.com Stakes, a Group 2 for 3 year olds and above run over 1 mile 4 furlongs. Khalid Abdulla has two horses running in his colours in this race namely Spanish Moon and Redwood. Spanish Moon was a naughty boy last season and hit with a six month ban by the British Horseracing Authority for refusing to enter the stalls on three occasions in twelve months. He had five races abroad last season winning two of them. If he enters the stalls he could take all the beating here.

Friday is Darley July Cup Day. The July Cup is a Group 1 for three year olds and above run over six furlongs and is the British Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. The first four home in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, Starspangledbanner, Society Rock, Kinsale King and Fleeting Spirit turn out again. It is very hard to oppose Starspangledbanner who will be a short price favourite. Fleeting Spirit (pictured) won the race last year, will have the services of Frankie Dettori and could prove the each way value. The Khalid Abdulla colours will be on Showcasing who disappointed in the Golden Jubilee and finished last. Headgear will be applied on Friday but it would be a major shock if he figured in the finish. Marchand D’Or won the race two years ago but looks as though he is past his best. As always it promises to be a cracking and intriguing sprint.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".