One of the highlights of the Summer in England is the July meeting at Newmarket. Coming as it does some 3 weeks after Royal Ascot, it is well-placed to attract both those that ran at that meeting as well as those who for one reason or other were not able to be seen at that time. The two Group 1 events are covered below:

Friday, July 10^th – 3:15 p.m. – Falmouth Stakes   

A mile event for fillies and mares, this year's renewal has drawn 9 runners, two-thirds of them being four-year-olds. One member of the 2010 crop and a couple of sophomores make up the rest of the field.

Starting with the oldest runner, Integral (by Dalakhani) – this is a racemare who is well up to winning this on form but disappointed last time out at Royal Ascot. Provided he has recovered from the neck injury he suffered on Thursday in the last race at Newmarket, Ryan Moore will take the reins on Sir Michael Stoute's 5 to 1 chance. As she hasn’t even placed at her last three outings, one has to seriously consider the possibility that she might well be past her best.

Until she ran eleventh in last year's "Arc", when fairly well fancied at 6 to 1, the French challenger Avenir Certain (by Le Havre) had carried all before her in her homeland. Making her first overseas effort here, Jean-Claude Rouget's ward showed signs of revival when finishing a close second in the Prix Bertrand de Breuil at Chantilly in mid-June, where she might have prevailed with a more forward run. Interestingly there is a rider change in store for her with Christophe Soumillon replacing Gregory Benoist. The bay is a 4 to 1 second favourite.

That brings us to Lucida (by Shamardal), last seen when making up ground to end up third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten just three-parts of a length by Ervedya. Here the Godolphin hope will enjoy a pull in weights of 4 kgs. Favoured at 11 to 4, the Irish miss will have Kevin Manning guiding her fortunes as before. Earlier in the season, the Darley-bred was a close runner-up in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, so the form points to an overdue victory for the Jim Bolger trainee.

Fintry (by Shamardal) was the winner of the race in which Avenir Certain was runner-up and Andre Fabre's charge provides Godolphin with a back-up in case Lucida fails to deliver the goods. With Mickael Barzalona up, she is at 6 to 1. Amazing Maria (by Mastercraftsman) emerges from a fine victory in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and the experienced filly will be re-united with her rider there, James Doyle. The market considers David O'Meara's grey to be an 8 to 1 chance. Utterly consistent (though held on last year's form by Avenir Certain) is an apt description for the Wertheimer hope Bawina (by Dubawi) from the barn of Carlos Laffon-Parias, to steer whom Maxime Guyon makes the journey over. They too are expected to start at 8 to 1.

Finally we come to what could well be the surprise packet of this event – the high-class Euro Charline (by Myboycharlie), already a Grade 1 winner. It may be recalled that the starter had flagged off the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot when the Team Valor filly hesitated a couple of times at the starting gate. Many, including trainer Marco Botti, felt the time given by the official for her to condescend to enter the stalls was inadequate. Anyway, that is history now – what is pertinent is that she has since been successfully schooled through the gates and should take a start under the urgings of Andrea Atzeni. She could make the finish interesting.

Saturday, July 11th – 3:45 p.m. – July Cup

There is a marked contrast between the performances of Australian sprinters at Royal Ascot and the same tribe at Newmarket just about three weeks later. Perhaps because many of them were primed to be "spot on" for the Royal meeting, they have suffered a "bounce" at their second (or third) British start at "Headquarters" – and regressed. None of the eleven Aussies who have run in the 6 fur. Darley-sponsored July Cup has so far prevailed and one who will be aiming to set the record straight is the big-made Brazen Beau (by I Am Invincible), regarded in many quarters as an unlucky loser at Royal Ascot.

Now sporting the Godolphin silks, following his sale by an enormous 38-member syndicate, Chris Waller's pupil will have that outfit's retained rider, James Doyle, aboard. Doyle will no doubt be hoping to "ping" his mount out from gate 15 and set sail for home. The consistent brown colt is generally a 9-to-4 chance and will be hard to down.

Standing squarely in his path for glory is the hero of Royal Ascot's Commonwealth Cup, Muhaarar (by Oasis Dream) who is the joint-favourite with Brazen Beau, and thus also a 9-to-4 chance. Winner of half his 8 races, the Charlie Hills-schooled runner has found his niche at the trip and will try and exploit his 6 pounds pull in the weights. Going purely by what he will carry vis-à-vis his rival from "Down Under", Sheikh Hamdan's property has a slight edge. Retained rider Paul Hanagan has opted to partner the three-year-old.

The Sheikh is double-handed here and his other runner is also talented, albeit somewhat wayward. This is the five-year-old Muthmir (by Invincible Spirit), an inmate of the Newmarket yard of William Haggas. The gelding, who has a high cruising speed, has a pair of victories over the distance at his home track and will have Hanagan's deputy Dane O'Neill on board. They are at 10 to 1. Haggas had this to say about his chances: “Provided they go a good gallop and he can relax and get into a good rhythm then I think six furlongs is fine for him. If he has a weakness it is that he can be quite headstrong.”

None of the remaining dozen is quoted at less than 12 to 1, and while any one could certainly pop up if the principals fail for some reason, it seems rather unlikely. For example, the 16 to 1 Sole Power (by Kyllachy) has Richard Hughes in charge, but has never scored at the trip in 49 starts, although he has no less than 11 triumphs at the minimum distance of 5 furlongs! And this despite his style of running – flashing home late – being more suited to the further trip.

To sum it up – it's for the joint favourites to lose, should they run below par. Else one can expect one or the other to prevail.