There’s plenty of superb racing to look forward to this weekend, but the pick of the action looks to come from Newmarket. This is where I’ve focused on for my tips this weekend, with each-way tips in both the Bunbury Cup and the Group 1 July Cup.
2:50 Newmarket (July) – AKKADIAN THUNDER (6/1 generally)
The Bunbury Cup is one of my favourite handicap races of the season, and it’s not too often you see a short-priced favourite in an open race like this, but that’s what we have this year with More Thunder. William Haggas’ colt has looked mightily impressive this season, but I couldn’t be backing him at the prices on offer – I’d much rather side with an each-way play on AKKADIAN THUNDER.
David O’Meara’s five-year-old has put in two excellent efforts over this trip this season, winning at Doncaster before running even better to finish runner-up at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. That took his record on turf over 7f to 128312, where he had excuses for the 8th placed finish (didn’t get a clear run at a crucial point).
Four-year-olds dominate the head of the betting, with all the others priced up 10/1 or shorter being 4YO’s, but it’s worth noting that seven of the last ten renewals have gone to horses aged 5YO or older. Akkadian Thunder is well drawn in stall 12 and should have a cracking chance – with four places on offer with most bookies, he’s the standout E/W bet for me on Saturday.
4:35 Newmarket (July) – FLORA OF BERMUDA (5/1 generally)
The feature race on Saturday is the July Cup at Newmarket, with 15 runners going to post for what looks a wide-open renewal. However, looking at the trends of recent winners can help narrow the shortlist down:
- Each of the last 10 winners were aged 3 or 4
- Each of the last 10 winners was rated 112 or higher
Those two trends alone leave you with just three qualifiers: Notable Speech, Flora Of Bermuda, and Inisherin — and of those, the one I’ll be backing is FLORA OF BERMUDA.
The 4YO filly has a solid record over six furlongs and did well to finish third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, having been caught further back than ideal and forced to switch out for a run. Despite that, she powered home strongly — a performance that suggests she’s more than capable of striking at Group 1 level.
She’s versatile in terms of ground, has top-level experience, and with a clearer run this time, she looks a cracking each-way bet in a race that should be run to suit her hold-up style. With the Balding team in excellent form of late, Flora Of Bermuda looks a good angle to take on the market supplemented Notable Speech with, who has done all of his running over a mile.
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
2:50 Newmarket – AKKADIAN THUNDER (6/1 generally)
4:35 Newmarket (July) – FLORA OF BERMUDA (5/1 generally)
*Odds correct at time of posting – 12:20pm Friday 11th July
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Please note that although Tom has uploaded the tips, he is not our Racing Club Insider – the insider will remain anonymous!
