Newmarket July Meeting – Masar The Main Attraction on Day 1

Bahrain Trophy Stakes

The well-bred Eagles By Day outran his odds behind Japan in the King Edward Stakes at Ascot where he stayed on well. The extra yardage looks sure to suit and at the weights, he’s the one to beat.

Barbados has progressed nicely through the ranks and is a very likeable stayer. The ground was too soft when he finished behind Dashing Willoughby in the Queens Vase and he’ll undoubtedly run well again. Nayef Road was just in behind Barbados in the Queens Vase but he’s had plenty of chances and doesn’t look as progressive as others.

The lightly-raced Spanish Mission ran a cracker in a listed vent at Goodwood and on predigree, the extra two furlongs should bring him into the reckoning.

Selection: Eagles By Day

July Stakes

Mark Johnston took this contest in 2017 with Cardsharp and looks to have another smart type in the form of Visinari who was well in the command at the finish on debut. The well-bred son of Dark Angel could be a potential superstar and is the one to beat.

Archie Watson has a tremendous record with two-year-olds and his Guildsman ran a huge race to finished third in the Coventry behind the classy Arizona. This represents the best form on offer and must go close.

Classy Moon looked good when winning on debut for Karl Burke but that was only a Carlisle maiden and he’ll need to step up significantly if he’s to feature.

King Neptune won on debut and bumped into Ickworth and Siskin on his two prior starts. The War Front colt then finished sixth in the Norfolk and will be bang there again.

Selection: Guildsman

Newmarket Handicap

This handicap is filled with progressive and unexposed three-year-olds with Aplomb looking like one of the more likely winners. He looked very good when dropped down in trip at Nottingham and off only five-pounds higher he will take stopping.

Pam Sly’s Dazzling Dan has looked good in three starts this campaign and I think a one-pound drop in the weights for his recent run looks generous and he’s my idea of the winner.

One of the more unexposed types in the race is Pass The Vino who’s having his first start of the season. He won on debut for current connections and a mark of 85 could be lenient, so don’t underestimate him.

Selection: Dazzling Dan

Princess of Wales’s Stakes

The class act in here is Masar who took last season’s Derby. Charlie Appleby’s star who was rusty but showed he retained plenty of ability in the Hardwicke and if reproducing last season’s form he’ll win this. Mirage Dancer finished ahead of Masar in that race and although he’s a smart horse I think he’ll struggle to confirm the form.

Baghdad has made an incredible rise through the handicap ranks starting from a mark of 74 to now being rated 109. He stayed on well to win at the royal meeting but may be outclassed here.

Dashing Willoughby was the subject of a gamble when landing the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot but I think the step back in trip in this better grade of race will catch him out.

Selection: Masar