ITV Racing Tips: Day 1 Best Bets As Newmarket July Festival Begins

The July Festival at Newmarket begins on Thursday, and ITV Racing are in town to broadcast the action while also throwing in a few races from Doncaster for good measure. Billy Grimshaw has scoured the cards and likes the look of a couple at flat racing HQ...

13:50 Newmarket - Bahrain Trophy

A Group 3 kicks things off on ITV and at Newmarket on what is expected to be a red hot afternoon, and there are plenty in here who could sizzle and announce themselves as future stars. It is only a five runner race, but there could be a case made for all five and that is evident given the outsider of the field is still single figures. Nil Bua Gan Dua is the aforementioned outsider and is the most exposed horse in this field for Joseph O'Brien, but given the superb season his handler is having he wouldn't be one to easily dismiss. Ryan Moore takes the ride after he bagged fourth in a Royal Ascot handicap last time out under Dylan Browne McMonagle and given he was outpaced in that race before running on well and now has four furlongs further to run at, he could spring a bit of a surprise.

Another race at Royal Ascot, the Queen's Vase, is the one I  want to focus on however and for all Galiyan's third was a fine effort, DEL MARO was a place in front of him that day for Godolphin and given Charlie Appleby has won this race three of the last five years, I am backing his runner here to confirm those placings. There is no doubting he got a better run of the race at Ascot than Andrew Balding's charge, however given how close Del Maro got to the well regarded winner, I am quite confident he will get a well deserved victory here.

Point Of Law was fourth in that crucial form line, the Queen's Vase, and for all he was caught out wide I do not think he has what it takes to reel in either the third or second from Ascot. That just leaves Derby fifth Alderman for Richard Hannon, who ran a screamer at Epsom but has perhaps seen that form let down a touch more than the other three from Ascot. One suspects he will be aimed at the Leger given how strongly he finished at Epsom, and I can see him plugging on again here but just being done for speed by the favourite.

15:00 Newmarket - Betway Handicap

Calico Blue massively tempted me here, given how well he ran at Royal Ascot but only finishing fourth due to his low draw, however I was very impressed with THUNDER CALL at York last time out and was determined to keep him onside next time out, wherever he ran. William Haggas's charge only just saw off the re-opposing Red Spells Danger on the Knavesmire, but the bare result does not tell the full story. Running in his handicap debut, Zac Lloyd gave Thunder Call a tender enough ride and was remarkably cool in the plate with Red Spells Danger and another fast finisher eating up his lead in the closing stages.

The manner in which Haggas's horse held on despite not being asked for everything indicated to me this was a horse still very much learning the game and, were that race his World Cup final, I've no doubt he could've eked out a bit more. Should that be required here, I'm sure Tom Marquand will push the button and for all I do respect Red Spells Danger and the Royal Ascot form Calico Blue brings to the table, Thunder Call looks the one with the highest ceiling in here.

The stiff finish here on the July Course means I do not discount Ten Carat Harry either, for all he clearly needs a stiff six or seven to be seen at his best. The pace doesn't look overly strong in here but perhaps Saffie Osborne will take the bull by the horns on him and attempt to use his stamina and make all. I would fear him more than the odds compilers offering 10/1 and bigger do, but not enough to ditch Thunder Call.