4:35 Newmarket Tips

Buick's mount of choice. Never run over 6f but has plenty of speed, and Buick is seldom wrong in his picks. Already a GP1 winner at Newmarket. He is the one to beat.

Two very interesting Charlie Appleby contenders. Symbol Of Honour gets the vote. Smart form. Five wins from ten starts. Bagged two decent races at Meydan before a Listed win at Newbury and win in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes last time out. Six furlongs is his trip (five wins from six races at that distance). Has won in striking style at times. Oisin Murphy (SR 14%) rides for Charlie Appleby (SR 37%). This Havana Grey 3yo is full of promise.

The last five winners of this Group 1 race all met the following criteria: aged 3 or 4 (so this excludes Run To Freedom, Rogue Lightning, Twilight Calls, and Believing). All five previous winners had run in a Group race over 6f on their last start, so this excludes Notable Speech, Night Raider, Believing, and No Half Measures. None of the previous five winners wore any type of headgear, so this excludes Inishirinn, who wears first-time cheekpieces. No winner was sent off with a SP of 16-1+, so this excludes Jasour, Ides Of March, and Spy Chief. No winner in the last five years was sent off as the favorite in their last race, so this excludes Symbol Of Honour. This leaves Flora Of Bermuda, Whistlejacket, and Big Mojo, but the vote goes to Whistlejacket. A 3yo trained by A P O'Brien, Whistlejacket is a two-time Group 1 winner, successful at this meeting last year as a 2yo. A P O'Brien has landed this race on five occasions, and Whistlejacket has room for further improvement being a 3yo.

I've gone around the houses, but this looks like a substandard Group 1, and few bring proper top-level form to the table. Arguably, the best form is that of Believing, who finished down the field in the King Charles III last time, but prior to that had won a Group 1 in Meydan, off the back of a series of top Group 1 efforts last season. Pace looks wide on both sides of the draw, so she should be well placed, and I think she's overpriced on the back of her first poor run since April 2024. Happy to forgive that effort where she tried to make the running on the wrong side of the draw.

Flora Of Bermuda has shown she deserves her place in Group 1 company and although both her wins came on going softer than good she has been placed this season in Group 2 and Group 1 races both on good to firm.

Is possibly the best sprinter to date in the field and can ensure the favorite will have to be at his best with the drop in trip. The selection ran poorly last time at Royal Ascot but is given another chance today.

The return of Tom Marquand to the saddle is a big positive here. With Tom in the saddle, scored a Group 3 at this trip just after a wind operation. Without Tom in the saddle, ran into trouble in a Group 2 and again last time out in the Commonwealth Cup. The yard is in decent form and goes well enough at Newmarket.

Top owner runs 3 here, including the 1st/4th favourites, so begs the question why is he also running this less fancied one. Selection showed bags of pace when winning a class 5 novice over 6f @ Yarmouth and was not disgraced Lto when stepped up to Grp company, coming 2/15 beaten 3.25 lengths in the Grp3 Jersey Stakes over 7f @ Royal Ascot. Drop back to this stiff 6f going to suit, good jockey retains ride and top training duo best here with their 3yo's last 5 seasons @ 23 percent. Selection could be the joker in the pack here as an improving 3yo and current 20/1 represents solid Ew value in the race.

A cracking renewal of the July Cup, with several strong form lines converging. One who stands out is Flora Of Bermuda, who has progressed into a really smart filly. Her third-place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot gives her a rock-solid chance in this company. Just two lengths behind her that day was Jasour, who didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages and was given plenty to do by Jim Crowley, finishing strongly in the final furlong. A winner at this meeting as a juvenile, he’s been campaigned exclusively at a high level. He finished sixth in this race last year, beaten only three lengths, but appears to be in better form this time around. We've seen across the last couple of days that they can go too hard up front, and Jasour is just the type to capitalise late on if they overdo it. With a bit more luck in running, he could go very close, and at around 22/1 with bookies paying extra places, he looks worth trying.

Night Raider is my long-shot today as he was a decent third on the return at York in a G3 at 6f on GF. However, he did not get on with the G1 at 5f. The return to today's trip and getting Sam James in the saddle, who has an incredible strike rate when running for Burke, could be enough to end up in the money EW 4P.

Cases all over here, but I thought No Half Measures was a fair price overall. Not beaten far by Believing in the Abbaye, back up to 6f, I think she could outrun her odds here. She can get a good tow into things from Spy Chief, and with high draws faring well in this generally, she’s drawn on the right side. A course winner as a 3yo, she’s unexposed at the trip in top company at least, as she’s 3/4 at 6f. Her breeding might indicate she’s capable of getting even further, so any strong pace should not be feared. She’ll need a big career best and is up against it on ratings with plenty to find, but she’s capable and unexposed enough to chance at the odds. Havlin is an interesting booking as he has a decent record for Hughes, who seeks an elusive Group 1.

Run To Freedom finished 2nd in this race in 2023 and looks a huge each way price in a contest without a standout performer. Has had a run to get fit and can reward each way support in this race.