The Punt Acca: Charlie Huggins' three horse racing tips from the opening day of Newmarket's July Festival

Furthur (1.50 Newmarket)

The three-year-old was beaten only three-quarters of a length by Carmers in the Queen's Vase and should go one better here. Furthur's excellent run in that Royal Ascot Group 2 was far less surprising than his odds of 20-1 suggested, as he was fifth behind Lambourn and Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase on his previous start. Lambourn went on to win the Derby and Irish equivalent, with Lazy Griff placing behind that rival again at Epsom and the Curragh. Scandinavia, Hallelujah U and Titanium Emperor all finished behind Furthur at the royal meeting and I cannot see that form being reversed. Nightime Dancer looks the main danger.

Maximized (2.25 Newmarket)

The £720,000 breeze-up purchase was well backed to win the Woodcote Stakes and duly justified 6-5 favouritism to beat subsequent Windsor Castle winner Havana Hurricane by a length and a half. That took the Godolphin-owned son of Mehmas's record to two wins from as many starts and his trainer Charlie Appleby purposefully missed Royal Ascot to target this Group 2.  

Opera Ballo (4.45 Newmarket)

The three-year-old's only defeat in four starts came when finishing a respectable sixth behind Field Of Gold in the Craven on his turf debut. The winner of that Newmarket Group 3 went on to finish second in the 2,000 Guineas before landing the Irish equivalent and St James's Palace Stakes. Opera Ballo progressed from that run to win the Listed Heron Stakes in good style, beating Bay City Roller by two and a half lengths at Sandown. The runner-up has since filled the same position behind the unbeaten Daryz in a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud, so the form looks solid. A 3lb penalty may not be enough to prevent the son of Ghaiyyath recording back-to-back wins in Listed company. 

Read more tips:

‘I'm fully expecting him to improve again’ - Tom Segal is happy to take on the market leaders in the Newmarket sprint handicap on ITV 

Harry Wilson banged in four winners in his last column - find out his tips for every race on day one of Newmarket's July festival 

'He's going to take a lot of beating' - Paul Kealy's best bets on the opening day of the July festival 

Paul Kealy's play of the day at Newmarket 

The Punt Acca: Charlie Huggins' three horse racing tips from the opening day of Newmarket's July Festival 

Free horse racing tips for Thursday, July 10 at Newmarket and Carlisle

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