The races, the horses and everything else you need to know for the July festival

Newmarket's three-day July meeting gets under way on Thursday with Group races and valuable handicaps galore all building up to the Darley July Cup on Saturday. We highlight the key events to look out for on each day at the July course.

Thursday

The key races

2.25: Close Brothers July Stakes (Group 2)

The Hannon family have a superb record in this sprint for two-year-old colts and geldings with Richard snr successful on six occasions while his son Richard jnr has taken the Group 2 contest three times, including last year with Lusail.

The latter saddles Persian Force, with the Brocklesby scorer out to return to winning ways after losing his unbeaten record when second in the Coventry Stakes last time out.

Aidan O'Brien's Little Big Bear did get his head in front at the royal meeting though and the form of his Windsor Castle success has been boosted since after runner-up Rocket Rodney's Listed win at Sandown last Friday.

Brave Nation, a heavily impeded fourth in the Norfolk, brings further Royal Ascot form to the table in what should be a thrilling clash.

3.35: Princess of Wales's Close Brothers Stakes (Group 2)

Living Legend has already beaten Yibir on the Rowley Mile this season and will aim to repeat the feat on the July Course with Ryan Moore booked for the first time by Charlie and Mark Johnston.

The pair are also represented by West End Charmer, with Johnston Sr out to improve his strong record in the 1m4f contest having sent out two of the last three winners. Mostahdaf could go one better than his seconds in the Brigadier Gerard and Hardwicke Stakes.

Other highlights

Frankie Dettori will ride Mighty Ulysses in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (4.10) as the brief sabbatical between the rider and John and Thady Gosden officially comes to an end.

The Listed mile contest was won by superstar Baaeed last year and Dettori has a realistic chance of a headline-grabbing success on the opening day of the July meeting as his mount drops significantly in class from Group 1 level, along with the reopposing Andrew Balding-trained Berkshire Shadow.

Balding also has Derby fourth Masekela in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes (1.50) with the first Group race of the meeting featuring Epsom flop Walk Of Stars and Queen's Vase runner-up Zechariah.

Frankie Dettori leaps from Lezoo after winning at Newmarket last month. Will there be similar scenes after the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes?Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Friday

The key races

2.25: Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)

It is impossible to keep Frankie Dettori out of the headlines this week and the rider is likely to ride the favourite in both Group races on Friday, starting with Lezoo for Ralph Beckett.

The Marc Chan-owned filly was impressive when striking over course and distance under Dettori last month and could extend her unbeaten record to three. Royal Ascot runners-up Maylandsea and Mawj hope to go one better than their seconds in the Queen Mary and Albany Stakes respectively.

3.35: Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (Group 1)

Inspiral made a devastating reappearance in the Coronation Stakes last month with the under-fire Dettori making no mistake on the Cheveley Park-owned three-year-old.

John Gosden confirmed on Tuesday that Dettori would keep the ride and Inspiral is long odds-on to make it a third successive Group 1 win as she returns to the scene of her debut victory.

Tenebrism, Alcohol Free and Siblia Spain could be among the challengers attempting to end Inspiral's unbeaten record.

Other highlights

Candleford looked miles ahead of his mark when bolting up in the Duke of Edinburgh last time out and a 13lb rise may not be enough to stop the William Haggas-trained four-year-old if lining up in the valuable bet365 Trophy (3.00).

Candleford: an impressive winner at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

New London could be interesting off an opening mark of 99, having finished second to Changingoftheguard in the Chester Vase, in the bet365 Handicap (1.50), the other £100,000 handicap on the card.

Saturday

The key races

3.15: bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)

Alfred Munnings could redeem himself after flopping in the Chesham for Aidan O'Brien, although Charlie Appleby boasts a formidable recent record in the Group 2 having trained four of the last six winners, including subsequent Classic scorer Native Trail last year.

Appleby has unbeaten duo Victory Dance and Naval Power entered, although Charlie and Mark Johnston's Lion Of War, a son of Roaring Lion, bolted up at Newcastle last time and could be anything.

Perfect Power (yellow) and Flaming Rib (blue): could clash again in the July CupCredit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

4.25: Darley July Cup (Group 1)

The £600,000 highlight of the three-day meeting features some of the world's best sprinters with challengers from Australia, Japan and Ireland adding to the global feel of the event.

However, the feature could go the way of the home team, with Commonwealth Cup one-two Perfect Power and Flaming Rib potentially reopposing. The Godolphin-owned duo of Naval Crown and Creative Force also filled the first two places in a Royal Ascot sprint, the Platinum Jubilee Stakes.

Other highlights

Away from the Group races, the Bunbury Cup (3.50) offers a tricky betting heat for punters and may feature familiar old-timers such as Accidental Agent and Bless Him, as well as last year's third Lord Rapscallion.

However, the £120,000 handicap has been won by younger horses in recent years and Montassib, Find and Jumby all ran well enough at Royal Ascot to suggest they could mount a strong challenge here.

Now read these . . .

Who wins the 2022 July Cup? Assessing the key contenders in a sprint to savour

Confirmed runners and riders for day one of Newmarket's July festival

John Gosden: I'm clear that Frankie needs to be more focused and less part-time

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