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June is Ascot, July is Newmarket, August is Goodwood

That's how many people's calendar goes and since it's July we have the Newmarket July meeting on the course of that name.

Two G2s and a G3 to start us off this Thursday.  The Bahrain Trophy is seen as a step towards the St Leger ans this race is for the 3yos over 2600m with 5 going to post.  Stowell is a consistent runner – by Zoffany he's in the hands of the Gosdens and will have Dettori on board and they head the market on 7/4.  However we have a slight leaning towards Yibir, a Godolphin son of Dubawi who has recently been gelded and Charlie Appleby thinks that this may improve his manners.  James Doyle will ride and they are on 2/1.  We have a bit of a roughie here in Mandoob who is going up in class but is undefeated and on 11/2 may be a go.

The July Stakes I over the 1200m and it's for 2yo colts and geldings with 11 runners.  Project Dante is up in trip but that may not be a problem and the son of Showcasing heads the call on 3/1 for Bryan Smart and Graham Lee.  Eldrickjones was second in the Coventry and looks a good sort – by Cotai Glory he's on 10/3.  Ebro River also ran in the Coventry (5th) and he's by Galileo Gold with James Doyle riding for Hugo Palmer.  Aleezdancer is by Fast Company and has shown a very good turn of foot in his last two outings.  He's on 9/1 for Kevin Ryan and Ryan Moore has the ride.

The Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes is G2 over 2400m and again only 5 runners.  Al Aasy has ticked all the boxes of late and comes into this as odds-on fav on 8/15.  We rather like Bangkok from Andrew Balding's yard with Silvestre de Sousa riding they are in roughie territory on 14/1 but the increase in trip may be just the thing.

Going is said to be good to firm.