GEORGE BOUGHEY: July Festival

The July Festival is always one of the highlights of the summer, and we’re looking forward to a busy few days on the July Course with some exciting runners. Libertango bids to build on her Royal Ascot success in Group company, while Moonfall returns following his Britannia Stakes victory, writes GEORGE BOUGHEY.

---

THURSDAY

CARPE PORTUS – 4:10pm Newmarket

Carpe Portus was very green on her debut but learned plenty from the experience. She’s a filly we expect to keep progressing as the season unfolds and should be sharper for that first outing. Hopefully, she can take another step forward here.

---

FRIDAY

LIBERTANGO – 2:25pm Newmarket (Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes)

Libertango couldn’t have done much more when winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and she’s come out of that race in excellent shape. We’ve been delighted with everything she’s done since, and she’s a filly with a fantastic attitude and brain for racing.

She doesn’t need a huge amount of work at home, but everything suggests she’s taken another step forward. She handled the July Course well in a recent piece of work, and this feels like the natural progression from a Group 3 into a Group 2. We couldn’t have her in any better order.

---

SATURDAY

MOONFALL – 2:52pm Newmarket

Moonfall returns after his excellent win in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. This looked the obvious next race and he’s a horse we’ve always thought a lot of.

Things didn’t go to plan for him at the July Festival last year as he wasn’t right after the race, so we’re happy to put a line through that performance. His work has been as good as it’s ever been and we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

BRUNNHILDE – 6:40pm Salisbury

The plan is for Brunnhilde to head to Salisbury. She may well appreciate stepping up to a mile and a half in time, but this looks a good opportunity for her. She handled the track well when she ran there previously and we hope she’s a winner in waiting. She’s improving with every start.

LOOKING AHEAD

Rosy Affair, who ran an excellent race when finishing fourth in the 5f Group 1 at Royal Ascot, is set to head to Ireland next week for the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes. She’s come out of Ascot well, and we’re looking forward to seeing her back in action, in slightly steadier waters.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

---

STAR PROMOTIONS