Nick Luck’s Blog: George could be a Saint for punters

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck looks over day one of Newmarket’s July Festival, and offers up several value selections.

SAINT GEORGE might be the way forward at 10/3 in the Bahrain Trophy that opens Newmarket’s July Festival (1.50pm). His Ascot effort in the Queen’s Vase confirms him as both a straightforward customer and a stout stayer. Cieren Fallon should be able to make plenty of use of him here, and the stable is wheeling into a bit of a purple patch.

MOUNTAIN BEAR is the pick in the July Stakes (2.25pm) at 9/2. Apparently not the stable first string on debut, he nonetheless did very good work late on, and he can be upgraded even from his ready win in a warm race next time as he was likely on the wrong part of the track for most of it. He’s bred to be decent, and the domestic standard is not insurmountable.

FRANKNESS must have a sound chance at 13/2 in the big sprint handicap (3.00pm). She has generally benefited from a slide down the distance range, but five was a little sharp at Ascot, and she was a little unlucky not to finish closer. She’ll be able to sit handier over six furlongs, has what could be a decent draw, and ought to be thereabouts judged on her Goodwood effort.

ISRAR is taken to upset Adayar in the Princess Of Wales’s (3.35pm) at 4/1. The selection might have something of the night about him, but he didn’t stay at York last time and his previous effort certainly suggested a fair chunk of improvement from last season. Twelve furlongs is what he wants on a sound surface, he has a bit of pace, and will travel well into the race. I’m pinning my hopes on a quick return on fast ground not being what Adayar really wants.