The Flat summer racing roadshow rolls on. The Newmarket July Festival is one of the most picturesque meetings of the season, but don't let the surroundings fool you, it's also one of the toughest and most competitive from a sporting perspective. With two more days still to come, I have four exclusive July Festival betting tips for day one.
Thursday Horse Racing Tips: Best Bets for Day 1 at Newmarket
| Bet Type | Horse | Race | Odds | Bookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Del Maro | 1:50 Newmarket | 7/4 | Betfred |
| Next Best | Morris Dancer | 4:45 Newmarket | 11/8 | Betfred |
| Strong Bet | Shipbourne | 5:20 Newmarket | 7/2 | Betfred |
| Value Bet | Man Of Vision | 3:00 Newmarket | 9/1 | Betfred |
Odds correct at 13:25 BST on 08/07/26. Odds subject to change.
It’s very hot at Newmarket this week. With that, I’m expecting fast ground, just as it should be for these prime summer meetings. Charlie Appleby should have a great week, and he saddles my best bet of the day on Thursday, Del Maro.
Odds for my four day one selections come from one of the best bookmakers for the July Festival, Betfred, who have a great new customer bonus.
No Expiry Date
My July Festival Day 1 Best Bet
Del Maro – 1:50 (Bahrain Trophy)
At Newmarket races today, we think of the Princess of Wales’s Stakes (3:35) as being the feature race. The Bahrain Trophy, however, is the most valuable event at £200,000.
This race is for three-year-olds over one-mile, five-furlongs at Group 3 level. It tends to suit those once on the Derby trail who either need to go up in trip, or perhaps down in class.
That’s the case with Alderman, who ran well in the Derby, but that was on soft ground, and he’s not guaranteed to like these conditions. The key piece of form comes from Royal Ascot’s Queen’s Vase, in which Del Maro, Point Of Law, and Galiyan all took part.
All three got a fair break, with Galiyan going up and getting into a good position near the front. Both Del Maro and Point Of Law were a little far behind for my liking. Charlie Appleby’s runner had to switch a couple of times in the straight as well, with Galiyan and Point Of Law coming down the centre on the better ground.
All Del Maro did that day was stay on relentlessly, ultimately losing out by an agonising nose. He is improving all the time, and can confirm his superiority over his old rivals at the July Festival. He is one of the best bets at Newmarket today.
Why I’m Backing Del Maro
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An improving three-year-old, trained by the top Newmarket handler
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Just beaten in less-than-ideal circumstances at Royal Ascot
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Already finished ahead of his two main rivals
My Next Best Bet for Thursday
Morris Dancer – 4:45 (Sir Henry Cecil Stakes)
Ideally, there won’t be any madmen with handkerchiefs and bells on their shins on the Newmarket July Course. There is one Morris Dancer I can’t wait to see though, and that’s this three-year-old son of Palace Pier.
Jockey William Buick rides once again for Godolphin, the Del Maro pairing, though this horse is trained by John & Thady Gosden. After a good juvenile season, Morris Dancer was quietly fancied for the 2000 Guineas in the spring. He wasn’t ready for that, but eventually made a comeback at Royal Ascot.
Running third in the Jersey Stakes was a good reintroduction for him, but he’ll appreciate this mile trip, and he can get back to winning ways now. He’s the second of my Thursday Newmarket betting tips.
Why I’m Backing Morris Dancer
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Charlie Appleby runs Wild Desert, but Buick is allowed to ride Morris Dancer
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Seen as a potential Group 1 horse over the winter
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Fitter now after Ascot, and will appreciate these conditions
A Strong Bet for Newmarket on Thursday
Shipbourne – 5:20 (1m Handicap)
I backed Ralph Beckett’s Frankel colt on my Saturday racing tips page in early June. He has always shown potential, and now he’s in a handicap for the first time.
Shipbourne has been pretty well treated in my view, getting into this race off a mark of only 88. He’s clearly better than that, and I reckon he’ll prove that he has weight in hand. I can see his July Festival odds disappearing if his stable agrees with me. He’s one of the stronger Newmarket horse racing tips of the day.
Why I’m Backing Shipbourne
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The best handicapped horse in the race
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Lightly raced and fresh, but still battle-hardened
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Will appreciate the July Course and fast ground
July Festival Day 1 Betting Tips – Value Bet
Man Of Vision – 3:00 (6f Heritage Handicap)
They’re all potential improvers in this three-year-old sprint, making the race a tough one to call at a glance. As for the selection though, I’d already done the homework on this lad long before this entry.
I know that Charlie Appleby’s Man Of Vision is well handicapped. He made a good start to life in handicap races on the Rowley Mile this year. That led to William Buick leaving some fancy rides behind to partner him at York last month, where I backed him, but he didn’t appear to want the sharper six furlongs on the Knavesmire and was very badly drawn as well.
The situation is different now, with this Dubawi/Kingman cross nicely priced as one of my Newmarket Thursday tips. At these odds, he’d be a good horse to use up any July Festival free bets on.
Why I’m Backing Man Of Vision
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Trainer Charlie Appleby is set for a very big meeting
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Thought good enough to win a similar race at York
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More at home at Newmarket (jockey rides this course brilliantly)
Over 36% ROI in June
June was excellent for the Saturday tips and my regular horse racing previews. Over 36% return on investment was gained, and the best bet won last Saturday at 4/1 as we look to start well this month. Hopefully, this week’s July Festival horse racing tips will do the business. Winners in June included:
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Almeraq (25/1)
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Qirat (advised 14/1)
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Opportunity (6/1)
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Square Necker (4/1)
