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July Festival: Five horses to follow on Day One at Newmarket
By Alex Scott
Last Updated: Wed 8 Jul 2026
Graham Clark, Dave Nevison, Johnny Ward and Alex Scott all share selections ahead of the opening afternoon of action at the Debenhams July Festival, with every race and all the analysis from Ladies Day live on Racing TV.
3.00 Newmarket: Man Of Vision
Tipster: Alex Scott.
Best odds: 9-1.
Man Of Vision is a horse I am willing to give another chance to having tipped him ante-post for a big field handicap at York last month, only for him to be given a horror draw in stall 20 and yet still run with credit in ninth behind the unexposed winner Thunder Call.
Prior to that, Charlie Appleby’s three-year-old had been progressive after being gelded (he looked a handful in his first two starts as a juvenile), getting off the mark impressively at Wolverhampton just before the turn of the year and then finishing second at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.
Thunder Call re-opposes here, but he is 6lb worse off and had a plumb draw last time. Newmarket’s six-furlong course is usually a very fair track and, granted better luck this time, I expect Man Of Vision to be bang there off an unchanged mark at more than twice the favourite's price.
3.35 Newmarket: Rebel's Romance
Tipster: Alex Scott.
Best odds: 5-4.
Charlie Appleby has endured a frustrating campaign to this point, but he looks to have another big chance here with his globetrotting stable star Rebel’s Romance. He is the class act in the day one feature and can add to his haul of £12.1m in career prize money.
The son of Dubawi may be an eight-year-old, but there is no evidence that time is catching up with him yet, and he was a comfortable winner when last seen at Meydan.
The top-rated runner in the race, even with his 3lb penalty, he looks the likeliest winner of the mile and half contest. Almeric has seemingly had his limitations exposed at this level.
Convergent is capable of much better than he showed when trailing home in last place in the Coronation Cup last time and is feared most, but he is another that is yet to score in at the top level.
4.10 Newmarket: Madam Secretary
Tipster: Johnny Ward.
Best odds: 9-1.
The Listowel form is working out very well and, while she clearly has to improve lots to get involved, she is 9-1 for each-way players despite being Aidan O’Brien’s only runner on the card with Ryan Moore booked.
I cannot see why she would be coming over here unless the trainer felt she has a decent chance. Bred to progress plenty.
4.45 Newmarket: Morris Dancer
Tipster: Graham Clark.
Best odds: 6-4.
Morris Dancer was set a stiff task on his return to action in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, however he looks well placed to build on that effort stepped back up in trip.
While proving no match for the front pair in the seven furlong Group Three at the Royal meeting, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt stayed on well on to take third against two race-fit rivals.
That was encouraging effort over a trip which was likely to have been on the sharp side, and with race fitness now on his side, he can take a big step forward returned to a mile.
5.20 Newmarket: Asmen Warrior
Tipster: Dave Nevison.
Best odds: 13-2.
Asmen Warrior was well backed for a hot Epsom handicap at the Derby meeting but everything went wrong for him and he was eased out of things once it was clear he wouldn’t figure.
I am happy to put a line through that run and prefer to look at the excellent penultimate start when narrowly beaten at Windsor to assess his chance in this.
He is 3lb higher, but is drawn near to the pace here and should have plenty of chance to take a favoured prominent position.
James Owen’s gelding ran very well on his only other appearance at this track and he can go well again.
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