Newmarket 2007 Preview
July 9, 2007
Newmarket Wednesday Preview by Charlie McCann of online bookmaker www.betdirect.com
The Newmarket July meeting is one of the highlights of the Flat racing year with the Group 1 July Cup generally regarded as the best sprint race in the European Parren race calendar and the Bunbury Cup one of the betting highlights of the season. To mark the occasion www.betdirect.com are offering best odds guaranteed on all Newmarket races over the three days. Thus take an early price online at www.betdirect.com and if your horse is a winner at a bigger price no fear - we will pay you the bigger price. betdirect will also be advertising early prices online from 6pm till 9pm the evening before the race takes place.
The first-day highlight is the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes for fillies and mares only run over a mile. The Classic generation have won six of the last ten renewals including with 50/1 shot Rajeem in 2006. Simply Perfect finished third in the 1000 Guineas before finishing down the field in the Oaks at Epsom. A very nervy filly she returns to a mile on Wednesday and may find things happening too quickly. The Naussau Stakes at Goodwood next month over 10f may be her best opportunity to get a Group 1 success this term.There have been many excuses for Arch Swing on her last couple of starts and she looked a filly of real ability when fourth in the Newmarket Guineas previously. She would not want too much rain today Monday, but the forecast looks decent for later in the week and she ought not be underestimated. That said the three-year-olds will be taking on a trio of genuine Group 1 four-year-old fillies in Naninna, Red Evie and Speciosa.
Last year’s Coronation Stakes winner Nannina was a facile winner of the Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot last month on her favoured fast ground. She finished runner up in the Falmouth last year and many will support her to go one better this year. Michael Bell’s Red Evie was one of the stories of the 2006 season winning seven on the spin and climbing the ranks from Yarmouth maiden to Group 1 success. She was a brave winner of the Lockinge at Newbury on her reappearance and lost nothing in defeat behind Ramonti (whom she had beaten narrowly in the Lockinge) in the Queen Anne. She looks sure to appreciate the return to racing against her own sex and has winning form on all sorts of ground.
The 2006 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa has run six times since her Newmarket success without getting her head in front, but she returned to something like her best form when runner up behind the Oaks runner up Peeping Fawn over 10f in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh last time. She needs some cut in the ground to be seen at her best, but if the forecast rain arrives at the July Course today she will take plenty of catching. The South African mare Irridescence adds further spice to a wonderful mix. Having left the yard for a while she is back in the care of the legendary Mike de Kock, although the multiple group one winner was not quite at her best in the Dubai Duty Free last time.
Other highlights on a fascinating card include the juvenile Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes which sees the Albany Stakes runner up Yor’resothrilling attempt to confirm Royal Ascot form with Aide Memoir, Cute and Janina. The O’Brien filly was one of the best backed horses of the meeting and connections will not have been best pleased to have left the cash in the satchels. Jeremy Noseda’s maiden Francesca D’Gorgio went into many notebooks after her run in the Queen Mary and she looks sure to appreciate the step up to 6f on Wednesday.
The Lancashire Oaks is the third Group race on the card for fillies with Alan Swinbank’s Turbo Lynn a fascinating contender following her unbeaten record in bumpers culminating in a fluent success at Aintree. The 2006 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Mont Etoile looks sure to figure prominently in the betting with www.betdirect.com having finished runner up over an inadequate mile on her reappearance at Haydock Park.
Low numbers (stalls 1-5) have won five of the last six renewals of the Heritage handicap and Sandrey of Peter Chapple-Hyam is sure to have his supporters, having landed a gamble at Lingfield on his seasonal reappearance before finishing last and lame when backed off the boards at Newmarket. The juvenile maiden has been won by many decent horses and Rio De La Plata will have plenty of supporters for Godolphin following an encouraging debut over C&D last month.
Remember best odds are guaranteed at www.betdirect.com throughout Newmarket’s July meeting.
