Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Looking for value July Festival day 1 betting tips from Newmarket? The opening day of the meeting has a Group 3 St Leger trial in the Bahrain Trophy and feature Group 2 contest, the Princess Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes. In the latter, Al Aasy is an impossible to oppose odds-on favourite. However, our experts do have some value plays in three-year-old races that kicks off the meeting below…
July Festival day 1 betting tips – Maximal the Sir Henry Cecil choice
In the Listed 1m Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (16:10), MAXIMAL caught the eye in defeat at Royal Ascot. Now dropping down in grade, he may resume winning ways. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, this Galileo colt is one of two sporting the famous Juddmonte Silks in this race.
Prince Khalid Abdullah and Cecil may now both be gone but aren’t forgotten. In Maximal, Stoute has a four-year-old that has run well in defeat on all three of his starts this season. Although beaten a length at Newbury on reappearance, that was by Hurricane Lane who has since landed both the Dante at York and Irish Derby.
Tasman Bay, who came third that day, has since finished one place better in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. Maximal was then runner-up in the Dee Stakes at Chester and a fine five-length fourth to Poetic Flare in the St James’s Palace during the royal meeting.
There is previous form with old rival One Ruler that needs reversing from their juvenile days, but the market vibes suggest Maximal may turn the tables. Charlie Appleby puts cheekpieces on that one who re-opposes, but there was lots to like about the way Maximal kept on in a far hotter race than this last time out. Therefore, he is well worth a wager at 7/4 with William Hill to get his head back in front.
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Earlier on the card is the 1m 5f Bahrain Trophy (13:50), and YIBIR looks well worth backing despite being ineligible for the St Leger. Another from the Appleby stable trained for Godolphin, this Dubawi gelding has abundant stamina from the dam side of his pedigree.
Yibir posted some decent efforts as a juvenile, winning two of his four starts beating and running into useful types. Although yet to win in three starts this season, his close third to Alenquer on reappearance in the Sandown Classic Trial is not as disappointing as it appeared at the time. That’s because of what the winner has done since at Royal Ascot and the runner-up, Adayar, achieved in The Derby.
Although Lone Eagle, who was back in fourth, has since reversed the form in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood, that one went on to be runner-up in the Irish Derby. In-between those efforts, Yibir finished fourth in the Dee Stakes, and the third home, Earlswood, has come out and won a Group 3 and placed fourth in Ireland’s premier Classic.
What makes Yibir of interest here is his dam winning over two miles. That stamina influence may give him an edge over Bahrain Trophy favourite Stowell, who was third in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Now stepping up in trip, Yibir gets the nod at a standout 3/1 with Bet365 for success.
Jadwal an each-way play in Heritage Handicap
In the 6f Heritage Handicap sprint (15:00), the last of our July Festival day 1 betting tips is JADWAL each-way. Trained by Charlie Hills for Shadwell Estates, this Mustajeeb gelding has a win and a second from two career starts at this venue. Jadwal won here last July at odds of 8/1 in a Median Auction event over course and distance.
Although he didn’t trouble the judge on his final two starts as a juvenile, his second to Dragon Symbol on reappearance at Kempton reads very well in relation to this contest. The winner has since scored at Hamilton, then gone down a nose to subsequent Royal Ascot handicap hero Rohaan in the Sandy Lane at Haydock and finished first past the post in the Commonwealth Cup.
Jadwal has also suffered two narrow defeats at Lingfield and on the Rowley Mile course. He meets his conqueror from the latter, Jumby, off 2lb better terms with just three-quarters of a length to find. That gives him a shout of turning the tables on the re-opposing top-weight. He has also since finished fourth at York off his current rating of 88.
A strongly run sprint may be exactly what Jadwal wants, and these Heritage Handicaps are often frenetic pace-wise. David Egan now takes the ride for the first time. Under a nice racing weight of 8st 5lb, Jadwal looks one to consider each-way at 12/1 with Bet365, although punters should note other firms pay extra places.
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