Kick-off to the July Festival

Newmarket, Thursday 7 July: Three days of top-class sport are promised at the July Festival at Newmarket, where the Princess Of Wales`s Stakes (5th race/16.35pm/115,000 pounds/2410m) will be in the spotlight today.

Six horses will contest the Group 2 test, with Godolphin providing half of them. Charlie Appleby is responsible for Yibir (William Buick) and Global Storm (James Doyle). West End Charmer (Andrea Atzeni) is saddled by Charlie and Mark Johnston, who also have Living Legend (Ryan Moore) in the running. Yibir recently returned from America with third place in the Man O`War Stakes (Group 1). Prior to that, he was defeated here in the Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2) by Living Legend, who recently disappointed in the Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2), finishing far behind Mostahdaf (Jim Crowley). John and Thady Gosden`s protégé took the honours, as he did in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3). The four-year-old celebrated his only win of the season in the Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3). New Mandate (Frankie Dettori) was unable to make a mark in his last two starts, but is being shown in strong hands.