Ted's Treble: Debenhams July Festival in Newmarket 2025 - Day One

Day One of Newmarket's Debenhams July Festival is here, and Ed 'Longshot Ted' Quigley is on hand with a tasty treble to get stuck into.

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Newmarket - 2.25 Comical Point - e/w - (8/1 Coral) 

Woodcote winner Maximized is bound to be popular here in this classy contest, but I wonder if the market is slightly overlooking the Andrew Balding trained COMICAL POINT, who won on debut, and arrives on the back of a very solid run in defeat last time out.

He managed to finish fifth in the Norfolk, producing a bit of an eye-catching run when staying on to be fifth behind the impressive Charles Darwin. That was a fine effort, after looking outpaced at the minimum trip, and finding plenty for pressure in the closing stages, giving every impression that the step up in distance to Thursday's 6f can really suit.

The form of that Royal Ascot encounter is working out extremely well, and underfoot conditions should be bang-on for this son of Blue Point. Oisin Murphy takes the ride, and this combination shouldn't be overlooked in what should be an informative race.

More racing tips: Debenhams July Festival 2025 betting guide

Newmarket - 3.35 Wimbledon Hawkeye (4/1 Ladbrokes)

A compelling contest, where you can build up and pick apart the claims of all of the quintet in a simultaneous fashion, as they are all struggling to get their heads in front, despite running well. Ghostwriter is the top-rated, but hasn't won for almost two years, which sums up the predicament for punters.

With that in mind, the percentage call looks to side with the younger legs, and the sole three-year-old in the line-up, WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE. There should be more to come from the James Owen-trained son of Kameko, who doesn't have many miles on the clock, and has only had the one start at 1m4f, when fourth in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot last time out.

That was a steadily run affair in the early exchanges, and he failed to settle before staying on well late doors. There should be more to come here, and he can register his first win this season. 

Newmarket - 4.45 Elarak - e/w - (6/1 Ladbrokes)

This is a fascinating renewal, where a case can be made for a few of the intended runners, but I am going to give the nod to the thoroughly unexposed ELARAK, who goes into deeper waters here.

The Charlie Hills-trained representative looks thoroughly worthy of his place in the line-up though, having won both his starts as a 3-year-old, including in destructive fashion over course and distance last time out, when clearing away powerfully inside the final half-furlong.

The raw form of that race is yet to be tested, but he couldn't have done much more in going clear by nearly six lengths to score in taking fashion. He will need to take another step forward here, but is entitled to improve once again, and Charlie Hills may well have a smart one on his hands.

Jim Crowley is in the saddle, and this son of Kingman looks to have plenty of gears which can be used to good effect here, and I would be surprised if we have seen the ceiling of this individual's ability. 

Don't forget, Ed will be back tomorrow with his best bets for Day 2 of Newmarket's July Festival.

Ted's Treble for Newmarket Thursday

Newmarket - 2.25 Comical Point - e/w (8/1 Coral)

Newmarket - 3.35 Wimbledon Hawkeye (4/1 Ladbrokes)

Newmarket - 4.45 Elarak - e/w - (6/1 Ladbrokes)

Ted's Treble - 421.5/1 (Ladbrokes)

Odds correct at time of writing.

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