Eight horses who caught the eye in defeat at Newmarket's July Festival

Race: Second in the Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes - (2.25, Thursday).

HA: This 75,000gns purchase has scooped back most of his price tag in prize money this season, despite not winning a race, and produced another eye-catching effort in Thursday’s Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes. 

The youngster took a big step forward from his debut to finish second in a valuable novice stakes at York in May where he displayed signs of inexperience before chasing home potential star Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, which looks useful form, and was first of nine in his group having been held up. 

That effort signalled a step up to seven furlongs would be beneficial, and he again finished strongly here after appearing outpaced for much of the contest due to the strong gallop. 

Admittedly, a couple of the leading contenders disappointed, but the winner is held in high regard by Eve Johnson Houghton and may have been underestimated. 

There’s plenty of stamina in Do Or Do Not’s pedigree – his closest siblings both won over further than a mile – and he’s by Space Blues who was a smart performer over seven furlongs and a mile, and that further hints this youngster requires an extra furlong or two. 

Nick Luck said on Racing TV that Tom Marquand advised Do Or Do Not worked “like an old chaser” during a gallop last week, and while it is unfair to say he is ungenuine, despite finishing second on his past three outings, headgear may be a wise move for Ed Walker’s charge who is certainly worth following for the rest of this season. 

Race: Second in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap - (3.00, Thursday).

AS: There was plenty of market support for the Kevin Ryan-trained American Style in the build-up to Thursday’s big sprint handicap for three-year-olds and, for a moment, Josephine Gordon probably thought she’d won the race on him, only to see Prince Of India come from the clouds to grab a stylish victory on the opposite side of the track.

That’s not to say this horse would necessarily have won had they been drawn near each other, as the winner won in taking style, but he comfortably ‘won’ his group on the far side andlooks one worth following.

Since having undergone wind surgery in the spring, this bargain buy has taken his form to a new level at three, putting in five top efforts.

Thursday’s second was the third time this season he has found just one too good, with his other two seconds having came over on the Rowley Mile, so he clearly likes it at Newmarket.

Whilst he has steadily climbed the weights, it would not surprise me if he proves much better than a mark in the mid 80s. He is certainly in good hands to continue his progression.

Race: Third in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes - (4.10, Thursday).

HA: Enamorus was sent off the 9-4 favourite for the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, and must have been showing the right signs at home to attract strong support, and be pitched into a race of this nature on debut. 

Hugo Palmer’s filly was slowly away and raced in last plus showed signs of greenness throughout under Oisin Murphy. She also took a while to hit top gear but eventually stayed on in eye-catching style to snatch a never-nearer third behind rivals who had the benefit of experience. 

The RaceiQ data shows only the winner clocked a higher Finishing Speed Percentage, and Enamorus will undoubtedly improve for this experience. 

She isn’t the biggest, so is still likely to make her mark as a two-year-old, and she’s related to three winners who scored over trips ranging from 6f to 1m2½f, which hints further could also be ideal. 

This was a promising debut effort, and she will surely be capable of getting off the mark this season. 

Race: Second in the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Handicap - (5.20, Thursday). 

HA:  I’m sure Parole D’Oro is already in plenty of Racing TV Trackers having caught the eye in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was repeatedly denied a clear run two furlongs out before keeping on once his chance had gone. 

He showed bundles of promise in novice stakes prior to that, most notably when chasing home Teroomm, who is now rated 96, at Thirsk in April. The form of his debut run has also worked out nicely, and he was arguably a shade unlucky not to score at Newmarket on Thursday when a fast-finishing second. 

Michael Bell’s charge was held up before staying on strongly and would have won in another stride. This was a fine performance on just his fifth start, and first outing against his elders, and he's open to plenty of improvement. 

His profile suggests he has a valuable prize in him, despite the fact he will be penalised again by the handicapper for this effort, and is a youngster worth following, with a mile on fast ground appearing to be ideal for him. 

Race: Fourth in the bet365 Handicap - (1.50, Friday).

AS: This race for three-year-olds was run over a mile and a quarter, but it effectively turned into a sprint. RaceiQ data shows us that, not only did the winner of this record a finishing speed percentage of 110.11, but that the final furlongs of the race were comfortably quicker than the 6f Duchess of Cambridge Stakes over 35 minutes later.

The winner King’s Charter was ridden patiently, so he is one that can be marked up for his effort, but the conditions of this race did not end up suiting the well-backed Urban Glimpse and I think he is one for your Racing TV tracker.

He travelled into the race well but did not pick up as well as some of the others on the quick ground and he would be of interest again back on good or good to soft ground.

Rated 86, he still looks well-handicapped to my eyes and his second at York in May is a race that has worked out very well. He was also sent off favourite for a Group Two in Italy last Autumn but came unstuck in the heavy conditions.

A step up in trip may also be on the cards, his dam stayed a mile and a half and there are plenty of middle-distance performers in his pedigree. Keep him on side.

Race: Sixth in the bet365 Trophy - (3.00, Friday).

AS: Another Balding runner for your tracker. This son of Cracksman was held up in rear in the bet365 Trophy, which was the place to be as the first seven home were all ridden with some degree of restraint.

However, whilst Silvestre de Sousa managed to angle out Oneforthegutter for a clear run down the centre of the track before going on to win by half a length, Oisin Murphy did not have as much joy on Lieber Power, having never quite got a clear passage to make a sustained challenge.

Whilst he handles good ground effectively, both of his wins have came when the word soft was in the going description, and there were slight doubts about the trip coming into Friday’s race.

I see no reason why he can’t get his head back in front back down to a mile and a half, and some of his form from earlier this year reads very well, such as his third behind El Cordobesand French Master in a handicap at the Guineas Festival.

He was a close second off his current mark of 89 in the opening 1m4f race on the Friday of York’s Ebor meeting last year, which may be the target yet again for this well-bred five-year-old.

Race: Second in the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes - (4.10, Friday).

HA: There’s plenty to like about Constitution River on paper given he cost €400,000 as a yearling and is out of a sister to Group One winner Wonderful Tonight. He’s also by Wootton Bassett, and his pedigree suggests he will eventually be suited by middle distances. 

His effort can therefore be upgraded as the race developed into a sprint, which would not have suited, and he ran green when hanging left under pressure.  

Aidan O’Brien’s colt also caught the eye in the prelims, with Nick Luck describing him as a “fine looking colt” on Racing TV. 

O’Brien also spoke to Lydia Hislop on Racing TV beforehand and said: “He’s a grand horse. He’s done plenty of work but will probably be green as he’s never been away, and we think if he runs a nice race, he could be hard to beat next time. He took the prelims like he’d been racing all his life!” 

The winner, Distant Storm, who was strong in the market, had the benefit of a breeze-up, and that experience proved advantageous. The pair pulled nicely clear of the third, too, and this contest, won last year by Field Of Gold, is traditionally a red-hot maiden. 

This renewal looks set to work out nicely again, and Constitution River’s size and scope, and abundance of promise shown here, means he’s an extremely bright prospect for Ballydoyle. 

Race: Third in the bet365 Superlative Stakes - (4.00, Saturday).

HA: Jockey bookings suggested Wild Desert was the second string of the Charlie Appleby-trained pair, but he was stronger in the betting than Saba Desert and is arguably the contender to take out of the race, despite his stablemate scoring with a bit to spare. 

James Doyle’s mount deserves credit for sticking to his task well under pressure given he suffered interference multiple times in the final two furlongs, which was significant towards the finish and resulted in a stewards’ enquiry. 

He would have finished closer with a clearer run (it's hard to say he was an unlucky loser), and this was a step back in the right direction following his defeat at odds-on over course and distance in June.  

Godolphin’s son of Too Darn Hot was a runaway winner on debut before that and looks a high-class performer in the making based on this performance, and the fact he’s a half-brother to dual Group One winners Shadow Of Light and Earthlight. 

I’ll be siding with him wherever he runs next, which could be in the Coral Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on July 29, or the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York on August 20.