Newmarket July meeting: day one

The Newmarket July meeting starts today, with the ground much easier than is usually the case following several very heavy showers. Main feature is the Group One Falmouth Stakes over a mile for 3yo and older fillies at 16.10 CET and on 2008 form this should certainly go to French raider Goldikova (Freddie Head/ Olivier Peslier), just about the best miler in the world last year; however she flopped on her seasonal debut (on very soft ground) and the Head stable has had a poor season so far, and one should possibly look elsewhere for the winner.

The obvious alternative is Rainbow View (John Gosden/ Jimmy Fortune), last sason´s top juvenile filly; she has not yet won this season, but has run respectably in top company on all three starts and conditions seem ideal for her today. She and German 1,000 Guineas winner Pennys Gift (Richard Hannon/ Jamie Spencer) are the only 3yo´s in the field of 8, but the latter, with all due respect for the Düsseldorf form, is unlikely to be good enough. The Cheveley Park pair Spacious (James Fanshawe/ Johnny Murtagh) and Heaven Sent Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore), first and second at Royal Ascot, should also get involved. Royal Ascot form could also be decisive in the main supportung feature, the Cherry Hinton Stakes for 2yo fillies over 6 furlongs at 15.35. Misheer (Clive Brittain/ Neil Callan) was runner-up to the brilliantly fast American filly Jealous Again in the Queen Mary - several of these behind- and should have no problems with the extra furlong.

She is preferred to Habaayib (Ed Dunlop/ Richard Hills), an easy winner in a huge field for the Albany Stakes, while Swan Wings (Andrew Balding/ William Buick) is moving up in grade after an easy win at Salisburyand could be the best outsider. The 6 furlongs handicap for 3yo´s at 15.00 looks fiendishly difficult, but with the Godolphin stable appearing to be coming into form, Global City (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) could run well.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Balaagha - Mo Mhuirnin - Cumana Bay
2. Race: Global City - Shamwari Lodge - Enact
3. Race: Habaayib - Misheer - Capercaillie
4. Race: Goldikova - Rainbow View - Penny`s Gift
5. Race: Poet`S Voice - Liquid Asset - Emerald Commander
6. Race: Charger - Beauchamp Xerxes - Manifest
7. Race: Last Three Minutes - Dancourt - Marajaa