Debenhams July Festival 2025 betting tips and predictions: picks for all three days

The Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket might not have the same fanfare as Royal Ascot or the Qatar Goodwood Festival, but it is an important meeting on the calendar. 

Over the course of the three-days there is plenty of top class action to take stock of, highlighted by the feature race of the meeting the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup. 

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Aside from that there are three intriguing two-year-old Group Two prizes, while lurking in some of the valuable handicaps on offer are likely to be a few future Group race performers. 

Those who find both the Royal meeting and the Goodwood Festival too long can enjoy a perfect blend of action on the July Course all crammed into a fantastic three days. 

Don't forget, Ted's Treble of tips will also be coming from each day of the action at Newmarket.

Day One tips

The meeting starts with a bang with potential Betfred St Leger contenders out to enhance their Classic aspirations in the Group Three Bahrain Trophy. 

There is no hold up with the pattern race action with Group Two Kingdom Of Bahrain Stakes, where form from the Coventry Stakes will be put to the test by runner-up Do Or Do Not.

Taking centre stage on the day is the Group Two Princess Of Wales’s Stakes, which this year has attracted a field of five talented individuals headed up by recent Hardwicke Stakes-second Ghostwriter. 

However, the most intriguing race of the day could be the Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, with the likes of Britannia Stakes hero Arabian Sun and the hat-trick-seeking Elarak taking on several already proven at the level.

FIRST's top tip: Furthur to win the Bahrain Trophy (2/1 with Betfred)

Furthur had to settle for second best in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, but he can gain compensation here. 

After running out an impressive winner from the front at Newbury, on his return he failed to handle the track at Chester, where he was beaten by subsequent Betfred Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby hero Lambourn. 

He showed that staying is very much his game when rallying well to the cause on his first start over one mile six furlongs in the Queen’s Vase, where he had the re-opposing Scandinavia back in fifth. 

With only a small field assembled here he could be hard to pass if able to dictate matters to give his red-hot trainer Andrew Balding another winner. 

Extra tips

Plenty will fancy Hucklesbrook to complete the hat-trick with Ryan Moore jocked up, but at a bigger price, it could pay to side with the Marco Botti-trained Prince Of India. 

There was just a length separating the pair when they last clashed at Leicester, however Prince Of India enjoys a good swing in the weights with his old rival this time around. 

The six furlongs at the July Course requires a horse to really see out the trip, and with Prince Of India scoring convincingly over seven furlongs on quick ground at Lingfield earlier in the season, he makes plenty of appeal here. 

Prince Of India each-way in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap, four places (12-1 with Coral)

Seagolazo was desperately in need of his run in the Britannia Stakes at the Royal meeting, and although he only beat two home on that occasion, he is better than the bare result. 

The Hugo Palmer-trained Havana Grey gelding shaped up well for much of the race before fading out of contention late on. 

With that run expected to have sharpened him up, and with connections securing the services of Oisin Murphy, expect him to make the most of a considerable drop in grade against much more exposed rivals. 

Seagolazo each-way in the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Handicap, three places (12/1 with Betfred)

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Day Two tips

The opening day of the meeting might have been Ladies Day for those packing the stands, however it is very much all about the girls on track as far as the racing is concerned on Day Two. 

Taking centre stage on the card is the Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes, which has been known to throw up a few surprise results in the past. 

However, it could be the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes that throws up the performance of the day, with impressive Albany Stakes winner Venetia Sun set to put her unbeaten record on the line. 

FIRST's top tip: January to win the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (2/1 with Ladbrokes)

Master trainer Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won this race since Roly Poly back in 2017, however January could set the record straight this year. 

The daughter of Kingman was only just ready to run on her return to action when finishing eighth in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. 

It was clear to see she had taken a big step forward for that effort in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting when finishing a close-up third. 

With those two runs in the locker she should be approaching the peak of her powers. Armed with a nine pounds pull against her elders she can make the most of that and secure a breakthrough Group One success.

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Extra tips

Urban Glimpse has had to settle for second best in both his starts to date, however he can finally add a one next to his name here. 

Having looked like winning on his return at Sandown Park, he ended up having to be content with the runner-up spot. 

It was the same scenario at York where he was headed late on over an extended mile and a quarter, but the form of that win has since been boosted with the winner, Dante’s Lad, going on to score at Windsor.

If Oisin Murphy, who is riding him for the first time this year, can get his timing aboard him just right, he can gain a deserved first success of the year. 

Urban Glimpse to win the bet365 Handicap (7/2 with Ladbrokes) 

Day Three tips

All eyes will be on the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup on Saturday, with the Group One sprint forming the highlight of the entire meeting. 

The race had threatened to lack a standout star until Monday, when Charlie Appleby, who already had leading contender Symbol Of Honour in the race, decided to supplement last year’s 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech for the race. 

Before some of the fastest horses on the planet scorch the turf, stars of the future will showcase their talents in the bet365 Superlative Stakes, while the fiercely competitive bet365 Bunbury Cup adds more spice to the supporting card. 

FIRST's top tip: Big Mojo each-way in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup (12/1 with Betway)

Notable Speech is sure to have plenty of supporters for him dropping back to sprinting, but he will have to be on his A game in what will be a new discipline for him. 

At a bigger price, the chances of Big Mojo look clear-cut following a luckless run in the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting. 

Plenty have latched on to Whistlejacket suffering a similar fate, however with his price now having shrunk, many seem to have forgotten the run of Big Mojo. 

He was faced with a wall of horses in front of him almost every time he was asked to go forward, and when the gaps came, he finished off the race strongly. 

This race will see him reunited with Tom Marquand, who scored on him on his comeback down at Ascot, and if he can receive a bit of luck in running, expect him to be on the premises. 

Extra tips

The bet365 Superlative Stakes has proven a happy hunting ground for trainer Charlie Appleby in recent seasons, having won five of the last 10 renewals of the seven-furlong contest, including 12 months ago with Ancient Truth. 

This year the master of Moulton Paddocks will rely on recent Sandown Park scorer Saba Desert to enhance his impressive record in the Group Two contest. 

Although the form of that race is yet to be franked, the son of Dubawi couldn’t have won the race much better, with William Buick only needing to shake him up late on. 

With that experience he should be less keen than in the early stages of his debut, and he can be expected to put up a bold show on ground that will suit. 

Saba Desert to win the bet365 Superlative Stakes - odds to follow.

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