The horse racing broadcaster picks out his horses to watch on day two of the Newmarket July Meeting, as well as two from York.
Six races on ITV on Friday kick off with a 10f handicap for three-year-olds, where CHANTILLY
4/1
(13:50 Newmarket) can bounce back after getting a tough trip from an unfavourable draw at Ascot. He has the physique to continue to progress this season and his Newbury third in the London Gold Cup has a solid look to it. He has made the running in the past and it would be no surprise if Ryan Moore looks to dictate things here.
Over to York for a big-field 7f handicap where BILLY B
13/2
(14:05 York) can continue the improvement he has shown since joining Craig Lidster. A win at Beverley was followed by an excellent second in the Carlisle Bell, which is traditionally a very competitive race, and even though the handicapper has raised him another 3lb he has form off higher marks earlier in his career.
The feature two-year-old race of the day is the Group 2 6f Duchess of Cambridge for fillies. The two to concentrate on here are Heavens Gate, who looked in control for a long way in the Albany at Royal Ascot before being collared late on, and MAW LAM
8/1
(14:25 Newmarket) who looks to have been crying out for 6f based on her strong finish in the Queen Mary. Maw Lam hasn’t always been the best away from the stalls and there will be more time to recover any deficit over the extra furlong. The fact she is also the bigger price of the pair swings the scales in her favour.
There is also 6f Group action for the Fillies and Mares back at York for the Summer Stakes. A chance is taken here with Firth of Clyde winner PRIME ART
12/1
(14:40 York) who has her first start for Jane Chapple-Hyam having been purchased by Denford Stud. The stable has a good record with switchers (25/207, A/E 1.26) and she can confirm the Ayr form with Great Generation, who carries a penalty for her reappearance win at Lingfield and so is 3lb worse off here.
The stayers are in action back at Newmarket for a 1m 6f handicap with several familiar names in action. No strong views here but KNIGHTSWOOD
14/1
(15:00 Newmarket) is a stable tracker horse after a luckless run at Epsom two starts ago. I have to admit a Goodwood handicap was the anticipated target but he could well improve for the step up in trip to 1m 6f.
The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes for Fillies over a mile. This looks destined to go to Ireland with the ground potentially the deciding factor. PORTA FORTUNA
6/4
(15:35 Newmarket) probably hasn’t had quite the recognition she deserves in a strong division and as long as conditions are not too soft she can notch her third Group 1 success. A Lilac Rolla looks the main danger based on an excellent second in the Irish 1000 Guineas where she stayed on strongly, and the greater the emphasis on stamina the better her chances.
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