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July Festival Thoughts & Lingfield Selection

Good morning all,

Football’s not come home after all. The two best sides in Euros reached the final and it was the best team in the tournament, Italy who took home the trophy to Rome. On the night England were just beaten by a better team although its always cruel to lose on penalties.

Well, “Super Saturday” is over for another year. It was wall to wall racing action on ITV on Saturday afternoon.  Yes, no time to give races like the John Smith's Cup the build-up the they deserve. However, it was fast, furious and thoroughly enjoyable.

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Newmarket July Festival Preview – Day 1

Good morning all,

When my interest in horse racing began, Newmarket’s July Meeting still used to be run from Tuesday to Thursday. As ever things change and commercial demand meant it run from Thursday to Saturday.

The big difference between the July Course and the Rowley Course is that track isn’t as stiff at the finish. Depending on the going and the position, there can be a faster strip on the far side.

ITV are covering four races from Newmarket and one from Carlisle as part of a five-race programme. In this preview I have had a look at four of the big races.

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Pontefract Selection

Good morning all,

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday that Stage 4 of the road map out of lockdown would likely go ahead on July 19th. Step 4 would if it takes place mean that the 4,000 limit on attendees would go and racecourses can once again host capacity crowds. So far this only covers English racecourses we shall have to wait and see what is decided in Scotland & Wales.

Johnson’s announcement is potentially great news for racing. Its 16 months since we had capacity crowds at a race meeting. The sport has the Qatar Goodwood Festival, York's Ebor festival and the Cazoo St Leger Festival at Doncaster to look forward over the next couple of months.

Fingers crossed this awful virus, doesn’t scupper plans once again.

Inside today’s main piece. I have a couple for the tracker and a selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Pontefract.

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