Today is the final day of The July Festival at Newmarket and is all about the My Pension Expert July Cup (17h35).
The Group 1 contest run over six furlongs sees twelve runners contest the £340,260 first prize.
Track conditions are likely to remain good.
Newmarket July Festival Meeting bet365 Superlative Stakes (Pic – Newmarket Racing Club/Mark Westley)
Two three-year-olds head the market and with the age allowance they receive look set to fight out the finish.
James Doyle retains the ride on Vandeek for the Crisford yard. A dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile last season over six-furlongs, he was unable to stay with the pace of Inisherin on his seasonal return at Haydock in May.
The stable was not firing at the time and the colt, who was odds-on there, should have come on a lot for that group 2 outing.
The Crisford’s currently enjoying a 27% winning strike-rate opted to miss Royal Ascot with their star colt and instead, aimed him at Newmarket.
The Havana Grey colt is the highest rated runner in the field, and if all is well with him, he could redeem himself with victory on Saturday.
However, Inisherin is back for more. The Kevin Ryan trained son of Shamardal has been a revelation since dropping back in trip after being beaten four lengths by Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas.
Four-lengths to good for Vandeek at Haydock in May, he went in again with an impressive two and half-length success in the Gr 1 Commonwealth Cup at the royal meeting.
On that showing, he is the one to beat.
Charlie Appleby has farmed the bet365 Superlative Stakes (16h25) with four winners over the last 10 years and Ancient Truth can further enhance those numbers.
The Dubawi colt won on debut over six on the Rowley Mile course and followed that up in easy fashion over course and distance last month by two lengths. William Buick retains the ride.
Earlier on the card, Lou Lou’s Gift can start the ball rolling for the champion jockey. Buick get the ride on the William Haggas filly in the Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap (15h12) for three-year-old fillies.
The selection was a comfortable two and a half length winner over course and distance last month and can take this jump in class in her stride.
