G2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes

Facing only two rivals in Thursday's G2 Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket, Godolphin's Inner City Blues (Blue Point) simply had to deliver and made no mistake to provide Charlie Appleby with some cheer. At €900,000 the top-priced colt at the Arqana May Breeze-Up, the winner who had scored on debut at York last month was in behind the more-experienced Adaay Of Scarlett (Mehmas) and Hickory Lad (James Garfield) throughout the early stages. Asked to close by William Buick passing two out, the 5-6 favourite took a while to...

Now that the vast majority of the Classics and the high-pressure events of Royal Ascot are recent history, racing's summer loosens up a touch with Newmarket's July Festival next on the endless circling timeline. What those amazing hardwoods in the pre-parade ring could tell you, looming over decades of choice thoroughbreds and interactions, hushed awe and nervous tension. The meeting's agenda reads like a mini-Saratoga and is Newmarket's finest week of the year. While Saturday's G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup is the key race, the July Festival is...

Making light work of an honestly-run renewal of Newmarket's G2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes on Thursday, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's unheralded 18-1 shot Zavateri (Without Parole) enhanced Eve Johnson Houghton's vibrant campaign. "I love this horse--he is one of the nicest I've had and has a huge amount of ability," declared the Blewbury-based handler, whose Havana Hurricane had won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last month. "He's got a great attitude and just wants to please--every time he puts his head through a bridle he is ears pricked...

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, THE PRINCESS OF WALES'S STAKES-G2, £125,000, 3yo/up, 12fT Field: Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko). TDN Verdict: This should be easy pickings for Ghostwriter after his third in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, where he showed that the trip held no fears. William Buick has chosen El Cordobes of the Appleby pair which is probably a hint worth taking, especially as the stable do so well on their home...

Wednesday, Fairyhouse, post time: 18:00, DARLEY IRISH EBF STANERRA STAKES-G3, €42,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT Field: Comic Book (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Drawn To Dream (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), Enfranchise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Goodie Two Shoes (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Royal Entry (Ire) (Fracas {Ire}), Santorini Star (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Umala (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). TDN Verdict: A race that Ballydoyle have supplied the winner of in five of the last 10 runnings, but Island Hopping is not one of...