Newmarket Thursday Preview - 08/07/21

The first selection of the day comes in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy over 1m5f and Stowell for John & Thady Gosden should take all the beating from what he has done to date.

The three year old bounced on the scene with a bright second over 1m4f at Lingfield, where really he should of won the race and his jockey was given a 21 day ban.

Next time out at Ascot he did get off the mark in a three runner event, cruising to the front and staying the trip extremely well.

The son of Zoffany last time out was stepped up in trip to 1m6f for the Group Two Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and stayed on well in the final stages to grab third behind two smart types.

That run sets the standard in the field and with him showing plenty of stamina , especially on soft ground this race looks perfect for him.

Next up is the Group Two July Stakes over six furlongs and with plenty of smart juveniles heading to post this race looks a tough one from a punting perspective.

However, the value seems to lie with Ebro River for Hugo Palmer especially if the ground changes towards the softer side of good.

The two year old is one of the most experienced in the field running four times to date, winning twice and finishing in the frame at Royal Ascot last time out.

Having needed his debut at Newmarket over 5f, he bounced back at Doncaster on soft ground next time to land the first win of his career.

He then went to Sandown on soft ground again and the son of Galileo Gold landed a Listed contest in extremely taking style.

Last time out he stepped up again to the Group Two Coventry Stakes over six furlongs and on quick ground he was a stellar fifth.

Although having to reverse the form with Eldrickjones, the ground should play more to his strengths and he looks the value at an each way price.

A race that always looks competitive is the bet365 Heritage Handicap over six furlongs and Boomshalaa for Roger Varian will not be far away.

The three year old was a 350,000gns purchase as a yearling by the well known Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and he has turned out to be a very progressive colt.

Making his debut over seven furlongs at Yarmouth as a juvenile he looked to need the run and he gained plenty of experience.

From there he came back this season for his seasonal debut and landed a novice stakes in taking style at Kempton and backed that up next time out when taking a 15 runner event at Windsor.

Last time out he was seen down to 5f at Royal Ascot in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse and finished a narrow second to a nice type for Karl Burke.

The step back up to todays trip will be a welcome return and handling both good and soft ground makes him versatile.

The feature race of the day is the Group Two Princess Of Wales's Stakes over 1m4f and we can't look past the favourite Al Aasy for William Haggas.

The four year old last year showed serious ability when winning back to back races at Newmarket over 12 and 13 furlongs, but went to Glorious Goodwood after that and flopped.

Many might have given up on the Sea The Stars colt after that, but on seasonal debut he stepped up for the Group Three Surprise Stakes over course and distance and ran out a very easy 4 1/2 lengths winner.

Sent into the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes over 1m4f at Newbury last time out, he could not have been an easy winner of the race, cruising to the front and demolishing a field on the bridle that included St Leger winner Logician and Dante Stakes winner Thunderous.

It was arguably one of the performances of the season and he tried to reproduce that last time out in the Group One Coronation Cup but was unfortunately chinned on the line by the gritty Pyledriver.

He holds the most ability and best form heading into the contest and would be a shock loser.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon is the comes in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over a mile and Maximal for Sir Michael Stoute could be tough to beat back in this company.

The son of Galileo has been a horse over the last few years that has shown bundles of ability finishing two nice seconds on debut before heading back to Sandown and getting off the mark in taking style.

Having ended the season in poor style, he bounced back this term at Newbury when a length second to Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane.

He had to settle for second again at Chester when behind the smart El Drama in the Listed Dee Stakes, who has since ran well in the Group One Eclipse Stakes.

Maximal was last seen giving a career best performance at Ascot over a mile when a close fourth behind the likes of Poetic Flare, Lucky Vega and Battleground in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That form looks the strongest, he now just needs to get his head in front.

The final selection of the afternoon is the David Menuisier trained Migration, who although top weight looks to be very progressive.

The five year old had been off for almost two years when returning to the track at Salisbury and finishing an eye-catching fourth.

Having been almost last with two furlongs to go he made big progress to only finish 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, who is a smart type.

He is only up 1lb for that run and if improving a fair bit for his first run back he could be a big player, handling both soft and good ground.