Races

NEWMARKET JULY FESTIVAL PREVIEW | The Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes

Five runners feature in the 1m4f contest at Newmarket on Thursday afternoon

Published

4 weeks ago

July 7, 2021

Reece Charlton

Master Of The Seas ridden by William Buick riding (centre) win The bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Picture date: Thursday April 15, 2021.

A small field line-up at Newmarket in Thursday’s feature race of the day, with only five runners declared in the Princess Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes at the July Festival.

AL AASY (4/6) has shown his class over the middle distances this season, claiming back-to-back successes in Group 3 company.

2C2XW3A Al Aasy ridden by Dane O'Neill wins the Betway Novice Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. — Al Aasy returns to action at Newmarket for William Haggas

The four-year-old made light work of his rivals in the John Porter at Newbury back in April, before producing another fine effort in the Al Rayyan Stakes as he drew clear to win by four lengths.

The Sea The Stars colt was held by the brave Pyledriver on his Group 1 debut in the Coronation Cup, but William Haggas’ colt proved he belonged at this level.

He has been dropped down in class here and his odds-on price is justified for his performances this season.

HIGHEST GROUND (5/1) has been inconsistent at best this season and he will need to bounce back after a disappointing run in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The son of Frankel has finished down the pecking order in both of his Group contests this season, finishing sixth of seven runners in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown before only managing 10^th at Ascot three weeks ago.

Sir Michael Stoute’s recruit did land a 1m4f conditions stakes in between those runs, but he will need to revive his form if he is to challenge Al Aasy here.

SIR RON PRIESTLEY (5/1) should relish the return to quicker ground here and he could well bounce back to winning ways in this contest.

The five-year-old struggled with the cut in the ground at Royal Ascot, but he has delivered two strong performances at Newmarket and Nottingham earlier this season.

Mark Johnston’s runner has proven his ability on several occasions and he should be able to trade blows with the odds-on favourite here.

BANGKOK (14/1) aims to land his first Group success since landing the Classic Trial at Sandown back in 2019 for Andrew Balding, while Charlie Appleby’s STAR SAFARI (20/1) will need to reproduce his Meydan form from the winter months if he is to be competitive here.