The definitive Newmarket July Festival betting guide. The Moet & Chandon Newmarket July Festival is the most prominent event hosted on Newmarket’s July Course. It begins on the second Thursday of each month and lasts for three days. The highlight is the Group 1 July Cup on Saturday, which Aidan O’Brien’s US Navy Flag won last year.
Several years it was held from Tuesday to Thursday, but in 2005 it was moved to Wednesday to Friday, and in 2011 it was moved to its present time slot. The other Group 1 of the week is the Falmouth Stakes for fillies and mares on Friday, but there is a lot of excellent action including the Bunbury Cup, which is a true conundrum for horse racing betting aficionados.
Newmarket Ante-Post Betting
The July Cup is the only race with a long-term ante-post market, while the Falmouth and Bunbury Cups will be priced a few weeks prior to the festival.
The major sprints throughout the season will affect the odds for the July Cup, but the two six-furlong races at Royal Ascot — the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup – will have the greatest impact. The latter, which is restricted to three-year-olds, debuted in 2015 and has since proven a reliable guide to the July Cup, as the Classic generation is prohibited from the Diamond Jubilee.
Muhaarar, trained by Charlie Hills and the first winner of the Commonwealth Cup, won the July Cup in his maiden race against older horses. After winning the Commonwealth Cup in 2016, Quiet Reflection finished third in the July Cup for owner Karl Burke.
Newmarket July Festival – Jury Cup Wagering
The July Cup is the most prestigious and heavily gambled upon race of the festival. Despite being a stakes race, some horse racing bookmakers may offer each-way wagers at a fourth of the odds on the day of the event.
On the betting front, the Bunbury Cup is typically the next event that comes to mind. This ultra-competitive handicap for three-year-old and older horses is run over seven furlongs two races before to the July Cup. Often, there are 16 or more entrants, so bookmakers will pay out each-way on the first four places and keep an eye out for those providing a bonus place. On Friday, there is also the Silver Bunbury Cup for horses that did not make the cut for the main event.
Newmarket Festival Tickets for July
Tickets are still available for all three days on the Jockey Club website, however Ladies Day is anticipated to sell out due to Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw performing after the races.
The Garden Enclosure, which is furthest from the winning post, offers the most affordable tickets at £16 each. The Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure is priced at £31 on Ladies Day, £28 on Feel Good Friday, and £31 once again on July Cup Day.
Premium Enclosure tickets are the most expensive without hospitality, costing $52 on Ladies Day, £44 on Feel Good Friday, and $48 on July Cup Day. Group discounts are offered each day, and children under 18 are admitted free of charge to all enclosures on July Cup Day, along with free entertainment and activities in the Garden Enclosure.
The Champions Lawn and Picnic Package is priced at £125, while the Moet & Chandon Trackside Pavilion Dinner Experience is priced at £480.
Newmarket Betting Markets
The July Bowl It is the most anticipated and much gambled upon race of the event. Despite being a stakes race, some bookmakers will offer each-way wagers at a fourth of the odds on the day of the event.
I Bunbury Cup On the betting front, the Bunbury Cup is typically the next event that comes to mind. This ultra-competitive handicap for three-year-old and older horses is run over seven furlongs two races before to the July Cup. Often, there are 16 or more entrants, so bookmakers will pay out each-way on the first four places and keep an eye out for those providing a bonus place. On Friday, there is also the Silver Bunbury Cup for horses that did not make the cut for the main event.
First Falmouth Stakes In the past three years, this event has been won by three excellent Irish fillies: Alice Springs, Roly Poly, and Alpha Centauri. The last time it attracted eight or more runners was in 2012, so it is not the ideal race for betting.
First Bahrain Trophy The meeting begins with the Bahrain Trophy over one mile and five furlongs (2,600m), a trial for the St. Leger that can prove instructive. The last winner to go on to win the Doncaster Classic was Masked Marvel in 2011, while Hartnell is perhaps most known for seeing Winx’s hind end multiple times in Australia.
First Princess of Wales’ Stakes On Thursday, there is also the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes over one mile (2,400m). Numerous elite middle-distance and staying horses have won this race, including Millenary (2002 and 2003) and Big Orange (2015 and 2016), who went on to win the 2017 Ascot Gold Cup. The Melbourne Cup is frequently aimed towards winners.
- Handicap Racing In addition to a plethora of handicaps and maidens over the course of three days, there are also three juvenile races that used to provide Classic clues but are now typically won by more immature types. The July Stakes is run over six furlongs (1,200m) on day one, while the Duchess of Cambridge (previously the Cherry Hinton) is run over the same distance on day two. Arabian Queen, winner of the 2015 Juddmonte International, and Roly Poly, winner of the 2014 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, are examples of recent winners of the Duchess of Cambridge (2016).
The Outstanding Stakes I This Saturday event over seven furlongs (1,400m) was won by champion stallion Dubawi in 2004 and champion miler Olympian Glory in 2012. But other Classic winners have not accomplished much beyond their Classic year.
Newmarket Festival in July 2020 Schedule
Thursday, July 11 is Women Day.
1,500 Bahrain Cup (Group 3)
2.25 July Handicap (Group 2)
3.00 Bet365 Handicap
3.35 PRINCESS OF WALES’S TATTERSALLS STAKES (GROUP 2)
British Stallion Studs 4.05 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes
Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, 4.40 (Listed)
5.10 Handicap
Friday, July 12 is Feel Good Friday.
1.50 Bet365 Trophy (Silver Bunbury Cup) (Silver Bunbury Cup)
Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, 2.25 (Group 2)
3.00 Bet365 Handicap
3.35 TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH STAKES (GROUP 1)
4.10 Weatherbys British EBF First-Year-Old Stakes
4.45 Handicap
5.20 Disability
Saturday, July 13, is the Darley July Cup Day.
1.50 Rossdales British EBF Fillies’ Debut Stakes
2.20 Bet365 Mile
2.55 Bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)
3.30 BUNBURY CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP)
British EBF Fillies’ Handicap 4.05 Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa
4.40 DARLEY JULY CUP (GROUP 1)
5.15 Betting Recommendations Relating to Handicaps
Epsom Derby Betting Guide
Cheltenham Festival Guide
Grand National Handbook
Royal Ascot Guide