Three big-priced Irish horses to keep an eye on at Newmarket's July Festival There isn't much time to breathe between top-notch Flat meetings and on Thursday the three-day July Festival in Newmarket gets underway headed by Saturday's Group 1 July Cup. I take a look at three interesting Irish raiders heading over to British racing's headquarters who are worth a second look at big prices. 16:10 Newmarket, Thursday — Madam Secretary This is a very interesting runner for Aidan O'Brien. He does usually send horses to contest maidens in Newmarket, as we have seen in the past, but fillies in Newmarket are slightly unusual. Madam Secretary is related to Amadeus Mozart, who was a winner at two and has gone on to be a relatively decent horse, and she was a close second to the highly thought of Lost Boys, trained by David Menuisier. She had a good debut in Listowel, where the eventual second, Big Negotiator, has gone on to win since. The winner, Beibhinn, has been placed in Group company since, and the fifth, Damsel In Distress, has won since. It looks to be a tidy race and although this is a £40,000 maiden, it doesn't scream quality. At the top of the market you have an 11/10 Godolphin favourite trained by Charlie Appleby, Peaceful Charm, and it would be brave to back them first time out given the recent stable form. Next is the Andrew Balding-trained Scommessa Sicura, who has a string of seconds to her name this season but looks one to progress with age. I'm willing to take a chance at the current 7/1 available for Madam Secretary in what could start an exciting July Festival for Aidan O'Brien. 15:35 Newmarket, Friday — Group 1 Falmouth Stakes — Jancis (20/1) While all the rage will be for Precise, and rightfully so, this is horse racing and anything can happen. I'd be willing to give the extremely game and talented Jancis a fair each-way squeak in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes for trainer Willie McCreery. She started her campaign in Newmarket on the Rowley Mile with an emphatic victory, kicking her rivals away in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes. She returned to the Curragh but found a difficult passage along the rail before a fantastic run in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes behind the progressive Blue Bolt, who she opposes here. She travels extremely well throughout her races and she's actually still not asked a question turning the bend at Ascot. I suspect with a strongly run race she'll be seen to best effect, and 20/1 for this horse is simply too big, especially as her record on fast ground is only a plus. Sean Levey will be looking for further success in the race after taking it out in 2021 with Snow Lantern. 16:35 Newmarket, Saturday — Group 1 July Cup — Comanche Brave (25/1) Comanche Brave takes his chance in the Group 1 July Cup on Saturday and although he was seventh on his last start at Ascot, I feel it was an excellent run. He travelled extremely well throughout the contest and when given his orders to progress by jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, I feel his run was slightly blocked off before he got into full momentum. Looking back at his win in the Curragh this season, it was an extremely impressive performance and when having a clear run he extended very well, so I'd be hopeful Billy Loughnane will look to make a move early in order not to allow any potential hard-luck stories. The horse is, in my opinion, Group 1 class and looking back to Ascot the last day, he was off the bridle later than the eventual runner-up and maybe in a different race where he wasn't clustered by horses at crucial stages, his finishing place may have been better. We are thrilled to announce that video replays are now available to view on irishracing.com from all Irish racecourses, along with a selection of premier British tracks.
