Newmarket July Meeting - Sportingbet.com Handicap

The July Meeting (I despise calling anything less than 4 days a “Festival”) gives us some of the best racing we see all year and has to have one of the highest quality cards barring Royal Ascot, with something for everyone from big field handicaps (which I will tackle below) to the best of Group 1’s.

The 19 runner Sportingbet.com Handicap (2.25) is typical big summer festival stuff. A bunch of unexposed, progressive 3yos all taking each-other on, many of them form the very “sexy” yards that so traditionally dominate betting in these events.

 

Things should be harder than this but the progressive Mijhaar seemed to have his stamina stretched on testing ground at Royal Ascot and should find this a more manageable task for all it’s no walk in the park. A mark of 96 is more than fair and he’s only had 3 runs in his life, so should be able to progress again.

His yard, run by the Rookie but seemingly experienced Roger Varian, has had seven of the last 16 runners for the yard emerge victorious with a significant number placed too. Add to that the drop back to a trip over which he routed his rivals on his seasonal debut, and he’s got to have a decent shout.

Many others make appeal but I’ve been waiting a good while to back John Gosden’s Rain Mac.  He looked the type to make a much better 3yo when winning a 1m Newmarket maiden last September on his second start & and was again improved when third to a useful pair in a strong looking York handicap on seasonal debut (raced very wide). That form has since been boosted by the second (Mica Mika, who reopposes) coming a close runner up to subsequent Group 3 third Eternal Heart, and the winner ran a fine race in my eyes when sixth in the King George Handicap having tried to come back on a day where it paid to race prominently at Royal Ascot thanks to holding ground. He’s only been raised 1lb for that effort and should improve for the run, so he has to be given a strong chance here based on only that effort.

Well Sharp, third in the King George Handicap at Royal Ascot having tired in the closing stages, is of major interest, while Sir Michael Stoute’s Labarinto should also be given respect although how much room for manoeuvre there is off a mark of 91 remains to be seen, as he looked pretty well held in the London Gold Cup last time. Fulgur has the potential to land a big race but he was pretty well held behind Mijhaar in the King Edward and others are preferred.

 Advice

1 pt win Mijhaar (2.25 Newmarket July)

1 pt each/way Rain Mac (2.25 Newmarket July)