Horse Racing Tips
Newmarket July Festival Tips Day 3: Saturday’s Best Bets On July Cup Day
The third and final day of the 2026 Newmarket July Festival is upon us and William Hill News look at each race on what should be a thrilling Saturday at HQ.
The Group 1 July Cup is somewhat of a global spectacle, renowned as one of the most valuable and prestigious sprint races on the international flat racing circuit. The winner is often regarded as the best sprinter in Europe- but who will win it this year?
Newmarket Saturday Tips:
- 1.40 – Subscription
- 2.15 – Tarot
- 2.52 – Moonfall (NAP)
- 3.25 – Elarak (NB)
- 4.00 – Abraham Lincoln
- 4.35 – Venetian Sun
- 5.10 – Leadman
- 5.45 – Cape Fear
Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington takes a look through the potential movers and shakers on Day Three:
1.40pm – 7f Maiden Stakes (Class 3)
Andrew Balding saddles the smartly-bred newcomer SUBSCRIPTION in this maiden and I’m rather keen on his chances.
By Night of Thunder, Balding describes him as a “quality animal” who “possesses a lot of ability”, which bodes well for an explosive performance first time up.
2.15pm – 7f Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2)
With any luck the cards will fall right for Roger Varian’s TAROT in this seven furlong fillies event.
The daughter of Starspangledbanner can be forgiven her run at Chester last time when she was drawn outside of the city walls. Her two-year-old form gives me every confidence in her ability, and at around 14/1 in our horse racing betting, she’s an each-way play.
2.52pm – 1m Handicap (Class 2)
Following his Royal Ascot success, George Boughey aims MOONFALL (NAP) at this July Festival Handicap.
Boughey reports the three-year-old has been going well at home so a follow-up victory looks highly probable.
3.25pm – 7f Bunbury Cup Handicap
ELARAK (NB) has been my selection many times before in this column, so I shan’t desert him on Saturday.
Just touched off in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, he can be on the premises today.
4.00pm – 7f Superlative Stakes (Group 2)
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is one of the most exciting young prospects in training and is already the early ante-post favourite in our sports betting for the 2000 Guineas next May.
He can justify his €2.3 million price-tag by winning another Group affair at the weekend.
4.35pm – 6f July Cup Stakes (Group 1)
The Karl Burke-trained VENETIAN SUN bids to become the first three-year-old filly to win the July Cup since Habibti achieved the deed 43 years ago.
A nice winner of the Sandy Lanes Stakes at Haydock, she then took that good form to Royal Ascot where she was victorious in the Commonwealth Cup. She’s a leading contender to land the silverware.
5.10pm – 7f Handicap (Class 3)
Course and distance winner LEADMAN can register back-to-back victories in this Class 3 Handicap.
Things certainly clicked for the six-year-old at Doncaster and a repeat performance would see him go close on the July Course.
5.45pm – 1m4f Handicap (Class 4)
In a race of interesting jockey bookings, it’s the Oisin Murphy ridden CAPE FEAR that grabs my attention.
Andrew Balding’s charge has been in great form this term and can put up another bold show.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
