The Darley July Cup at 3.35 at Newmarket is a fascinating race. The class forse of the race Delegator missed the RoyalAscot meeting because of the slow going, overnight there hasnt been any rain at Newmarket but light rain is forecast for this afternoon and with that in mind I think the better option for a trade is the Aussie horse Star Witness. The colt ran two cracking races at Royal Ascot finishing third in the Golden Jubilee and second in the King Stand. He is a Group One winner over six furlongs in Australia, has proved that he can handle the ground whether it is good or good/soft. Backed at 7.8 means that an in running lay off price of 4.6 for an all green profit of either 1.3 or 1.5 pts or lay off at 5.1 for an all green screen to the value of 1 point.
In the 6.50 at Newbury I have a fancy that at the prices we may be able to get a trade from a Hugh Morrison trained horse in the very consistent Celestial Girl. She is the ultra consistent type and has been running over 12 furlongs so far this season, tonight however she is dropped back in distance to 10 furlongs a distance where all her victory's have been achieved€, her record is 3/4, all three of her wins have been with Chris Catlin on board and when he has been in the saddle she has also traded six times out of six. Backed at 6.2 leaves an in running lay off price of 3.7 for a 1.3 point all green screen or lay off at 4.1 for a one point all green profit.
In the last at Newmarket, again another tricky big field handicap over eight furlongs, I hope we can eke a trade out of the Richard Fahey trained and Lee Topliss ridden Arabian Spirit. The gelding was third on good/soft at Newcastle last time out off a 1lb lower mark, he has two placed efforts to his name over course and distance, doesn't have the best of the draw but at the price he may well be up to giving us a trade this afternoon. Backed at 22 leaving an in running lay off price of 13 for an all green profit of 1.3 points or lay off at 14.5 for a one point profit.
At 24 Venetius may also trade from a good draw. 14 would be the aim.
Gladys Gal was to be the choice in the next at York but being a non runner I've turned my attention to the favourite Firebeam, he won his maiden very easily last time out and a handicap mark of 85 may turn out to be a lenient one. He has already been placed over the distance when the going at Doncaster that day was very similar to that at York today. Backed at 3.9 leaving an in running lay off price of 2.32 for an all green screen to the value of 1.3 points or lay off at 2.56 for a one point all green screen.
The next at Ascot is an intriguing race with a 16 runner field to complacte this Class 3 Handicap. The one I'm pinning my faith in for a trade is the 3 yo gelding Reposer. The unexposed three year old gets in here off a low weight and coupled with a return to 6 furlongs and an ease in the going should give him a shout of at least trading for us this afternoon. Backed at 15.5 leaves an in running lay off price of 9.2 needed for a 1.3 point all green screen or lay off at 10 for a one point all green.
In the next at York a horse stepping up from Listed company who may run well enough to give us a trade this afternoon is Show Rainbow, she gets an allowance here, distance and going should be no problem, cant see her winning but a trade is more than a possibility. Backed at 19 leay off price is 11.5 for 1.3 pts or 12.5 for 1 pt.
A good days racing and a good card in particular at Newmarket this afternoon, I hope we can get a trade in the next with the Sir Mark Prescott trained Coeus, the gelding has shortened up in running in all five of his races so far, four of them would have made decent trades, third to Steps last time out and has a handy 5lb pull in the weights for being beaten less than two lengths. Five furlongs was probably too short last time and this 6 furlongs will be ideal. Backed at 15.5 leaves an in running lay off price of 9.2 needed for an all green screen to the value of 1.3 points or lay off at 10 for a one point all green.
In the 7.25 at Epsom the horse with the most and best recent form is New Code, last time out was his poorest showing for a while yet still he managed to travel strongly enough to trade down as low as 2.08 in running. This is another poor field tonight in this class four handicap and with nothing else in startling good form New Code should again show up well enough to give us a trade. Backed at 5.3 leaves us needing an in running lay off price of 3.15 for an all green screen to the value of 1.3 points or lay off at 3.5 for a one point all green screen.
There are lots of good fillies in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow and the horse that sets the standard, and a high one at that is Shumoos. Still available at 3/1 with Hills, why so high? The doubt about the distance could be the reason why but just like Frederik Engels stayed today I expect Shumoos to stay at least as well tomorrow and well enough to give us a trade, maybe more. The way she was running on under pressure at Royal Ascot does suggest that she will get the distance. Backed at 4 leaves an in running lay off price of 2.4 in running for an all green screen to the value of 1.3 points or lay off at 2.64 for a one point all green screen.
Anyone reading this this morning can find Shumoos on a little drift and available at 4.3 which leaves an in running lay off price of 2.56 for a trade to leave you with a 1.3 pt profit or to lay off at 2.82 for a one point all green.
In the 4.05 At Newmarket I'm hoping that Cai Shen can make us some money with a back to lay. The colt was first home from those who raced down the centre in the Britannia Handicap at the Royal meeting and only went down by half a length, the ground was maybe a little bit soft for him that day and today's good to firm ground will be much more to his liking, all three of his wins to date have been on good to firm. Tactically Cai Shen is versatile having won in small fields when ridden prominently and also when having been held up. The conditions of the race slightly favour him today and backing him at 3.05 will mean that we need a lay off price in running of 2 to give us an all green screen and a one point profit.