Three trainers it could pay to follow at Newmarket's July festival

With Newmarket's three-day July festival starting on Thursday, here are three trainers worth following at the popular meeting.

Roger Varian

Roger Varian has proven a trainer to keep onside this year, with 55 per cent of his runners finishing third or better in 2019.

He has rewarded his backers with profit at both Newmarket courses, and bids to continue his fine season with a strong team across all three days of the festival, spearheaded by Wokingham winner Cape Byron gunning for glory in Saturday's July Cup (4.40).

Nell Gwyn winner Qabala bids to get her season back on track in the Falmouth Stakes on Friday (3.35), which could prove to be a grand day for Varian with Albany scorer Daahyeh looking to maintain her unbeaten record in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (2.25).

David Egan guides Qabala to victory in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at NewmarketCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Varian’s stable depth is up there with the best of them and having already proven dangerous in Newmarket this season, he could make his presence felt at his local track this week.

Charlie Appleby

Charlie Appleby has won with six of his 11 runners on the July course this season and was prolific at this meeting last year, landing a treble on the Saturday.

The trainer has a leading chance in the Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes (3.35) on Thursday with 2018 Derby winner Masar, who finished fifth on his return from injury in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Charlie Appleby: runs last year's Derby winner Masar in the Princess of Wales's StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

On Friday, Divine Spirit also bids to bounce back after disappointing at Royal Ascot when 14th in the Queen Mary, and remains in Group 2 company for the Duchess Of Cambridge.

Appleby won last year's bet365 Superlative Stakes (2.55) with Quorto and runs King's Command on Saturday. The two-year-old is taking a major step up in class after winning his only start at the course last month, and holds Group 1 entries later this year.

Michael Bell

Michael Bell has quietly been having a very steady season and has his stable in good nick, entering this week with a 20 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight.

He could get off to a flyer with Eagles By Day set to line up in the Bahrain Trophy (1.50), Thursday's festival opener. The three-year-old finished third behind Japan in the King Edward VII at Ascot but finished strongly, so the extra furlong at Newmarket should suit.

Among his other runners is July Cup hope Pretty Pollyanna, who scored at last year’s festival in style with a rousing seven-length success in the Duchess Of Cambridge.

Bell has proven profitable to follow at the July course in three of the past four seasons and could be a punter's pal once again.

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