Simon Holt's best bets for day two of the July Festival at Newmarket

Horse Racing

Fri July 14, 2017 · 7y ago

Top commentator Simon Holt puts his faith in the judgement of Ian Williams on day two of the July Festival at Newmarket.

Recommended bets:

2pts win Sea Of Grace (if NR, Roly Poly) in 3.35 Newmarket at best morning price

2pts win Speedo Boy in 3.00 Newmarket at 14/1

Friday's Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes looks a weakish renewal and, providing trainer William Haggas is happy with the ground, SEA OF GRACE could be the one to beat.

Handled by John Oxx in Ireland last season, the daughter of Born To Sea won two of her three juvenile starts culminating in a Group Three win at The Curragh.

On her reappearance and her debut for Haggas, Sea Of Grace was thought unsuited by going described as good to firm on the Rowley Mile course where she finished fifth behind Daban in the Nell Gwyn Stakes.

However, she took a big step forward next time on softer ground at Deauville chasing home Precieuse in the French Guineas and, while the winner and third-placed Heuristique have been beaten subsequently, she finished over two lengths ahead of Roly Poly (sixth) who, by contrast, would probably have preferred faster conditions.

If, as expected, she can build on that performance then Sea Of Grace is taken to confirm the Deauville placings and account for the reappearing Wuheida, providing the forecast showers materialise. If that proves not to be the case, there is the possibility she will be withdrawn.

Wuheida entered the 2017 Flat season as a leading Classic hope for Godolphin but has been delayed by a setback.

Unbeaten in two starts last season, the Dubawi filly battled on in determined fashion to win the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly in October, and Dabyah (third) and Senga (fourth and recent winner of the French Oaks) make the form look more than respectable.

However, my chief reservation about the Charlie Appleby-trained filly is that a mile may prove too sharp for her this season as, on pedigree, she looks more of a middle-distance prospect.

Roly Poly, winner of the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at this meeting 12 months ago, has run solidly in her two outings since Deauville, chasing home her superior stable-companion Winter in both the Irish Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In the absence of Sea Of Grace, Aidan O'Brien's tough filly would get the vote.

Earlier, SPEEDO BOY could be the value at double-figure odds in the bet365 Handicap.

This progressive three-year-old takes a drop in class here after finishing seventh behind the likes of Benbatl and Orderofthegarter in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot having previously split Permian and Khalidi at Newmarket.

Speedo Boy's chance at Ascot wasn't helped by being caught wide but he was far from disgraced behind some Classic class rivals and, while maybe not quite up to Group Three level at this stage, he certainly has the potential to rate a bit higher than his current mark. I like his attitude and have a great regard for the judgement of his trainer Ian Williams.

The danger could be the Haggas-trained Daawy who may have been unsuited by soft ground when beaten at odds-on at Doncaster last time having previously trotted up at Ripon on a drier surface.

Meanwhile, likely favourite Titi Makfi has gone up 23lb in the ratings for four straight wins and keeps on defying the handicapper.

Mark Johnston's filly is hard to ignore but three of those victories came against her own sex, including at Chester last time, and this looks a different ball game.

Posted at 0924 on 13/07/2017