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| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
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| Updated: 29th June 2010 - GG.com |
Punter's Diary for July 2010
July's Flat race action always opens with the traditional clash of the generations in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes but sadly this year's renewal is a pale comparison of past delights and with no three-year-old of any real significance among the entries the 2010 renewal is most likely to go the way of one of the older horses.
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Twice Over was well and truly put in his place in last year's contest by a brilliant Sea The Stars and a plucky Rip Van Winkle but with this year's race lacking horses of their quality, Twice Over will be in with a strong shout.
He took a long time to land a Group 1 contest and he is always vulnerable in this type of event and will have plenty to fear from Dar Re Mi, who comes into the race in the form of her life after winning so well against much tougher rivals in Dubai earlier in the year. She might be the one to strike a blow for the fairer sex.
On the same day as the Coral Eclipse, Haydock hosts the Lancashire Oaks and this mile and a half contest can often fall to a late-maturing filly, a category into which last year's winner Barshiba fits very nicely and David Elsworth's 2009 winner looks set to land a repeat success at the Lancashire course. In the Old Newton Cup on the same Haydock card backers should keep an eye upon Tony Newcombe's Hanoverian Baron, who made it three wins from his last four starts at York the other day.
Newmarket's three-day July meeting occupies centre stage in the middle of the month and on the opening day of July 7 we should see Coronation Stakes heroine Lillie Langtry bid to land a second Group 1 in the Falmouth Stakes against the older mile fillies. In an undistinguished year for fillies she might well be good enough and it will be a welcome change to see the over-rated Special Duty beaten fair and square for once in a pattern race.
On the meeting's second day the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes is the feature race and punters should watch out for any Sir Michael Stoute runners in this mile and a half event. Newmarket brings the curtain down on July 9 with the feature race of the full three days in the shape of the Group 1 July Cup where Starspangledbanner will be a short-priced favourite to confirm Golden Jubilee Stakes form with Society Rock and Kinsale King.
York's John Smith's Cup on July 10 is the best handicap held over this trip all season long and if Sir Michael Stoute allows Imposing to take his chance then backers need look no further for the winner. Set far too much to do over an extra quarter of a mile at Royal Ascot, this hugely talented type is a pattern performer in a handicap guise and this may well be his race.
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July's high-class action moves towards a thrilling climax on the 24th of the month with what is set to be a really strong renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. This really is a proper clash of the generations with the Epsom and Irish Derby heroes Workforce and Cape Blanco respectively poised to do battle with Harbinger, the best middle-distance older horse in Britain. It promises to be a thriller and the ideal appetizer for the following week's Glorious Goodwood meeting.
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On July 27 Doncaster Rover may well be among the leading challengers for the Betfair Cup providing the ground is not riding too fast at the Sussex course while on July 28 Canford Cliffs could prove too strong for Rip Van Winkle, who will be bidding for a second success in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.
Kingsgate Native will also be in the same business of trying to follow-up last year's success in the King George Stakes on July 28 and in the Goodwood Cup the steadily improving Opinion Poll would hold a leading chance as long as the ground is not too fast for the Michael Jarvis-trained colt.
The week's action on the Sussex Downs comes to a splendid conclusion with the Group 1 Nassau Stakes on July 31and Midday will bid to continue the theme of returning winners as she attempts to land this valuable fillies' prize for a second year in succession but she will face strong opposition from France in the shape of Stacelita. Finally, watch out for Genki and Hawkeyethenoo in the Stewards' Cup. Both crack sprinters were undone by the draw last time and should do tons better at Goodwood.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive June 2010
