Thursday 10th July 2014

It’s the first day of the Newmarket July meeting, the highlight this afternoon is the Princess of Wales’s Group 2 stakes where Arab Spring will go off the short priced favourite. Sir Michael Stoute trains the top two in the betting, jockey Ryan Moore would of have had choice of mounts.

It looks significant Moore has chosen Arab Spring who runs in Group Company for the first time, the price of 11-10 is not that appealing with so much good racing in the next 3 days, just a watching brief for me but I would expect Arab Spring to go very close.

The 2:10 is a tricky race with plenty of smart up and coming sprinters taking their chance. On paper Belardo faces a big task, this is a huge rise in class but I was very taken by his debut win and marked him down as Group horse in the making.

Trainer Roger Varian doesn’t tilt at windmills and knows the time of day, I find it interesting he’s pitching Belardo at Group level so quickly, the horse must be held in some regard at home.

Priced at 9-2 I’ve had little bit EW for interest on a highly competitive start to the July meeting.