Saturday Racing Tips - July 11, 2026

Newmarket July Festival 2026 Tips: Race-by-Race Guide for Day 3

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Fri 10 Jul 2026 12:12

Jon Vine 2 hours ago

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Day 3 of the Newmarket July Festival features the July Cup and competitive undercard
Top tips: True Test (Fillies' Handicap), Wechaad (Weatherbys), Great Acclaim (Bunbury Cup), Al Hudaiba (Superlative)
Coppull is a value pick in July Cup; strong focus on trends and value bets

The July Cup headlines the final day of the Newmarket July Festival. (Getty)

Newmarket's July Festival reaches its climax on Saturday, with the prestigious July Cup headlining another outstanding card on the July Course.

Newmarket July Festival 2026 - Day 3 Preview
Race 1 - Maiden Stakes Tips
Race 2 - World Pool Fillies' Handicap Tips
Race 3 - Weatherbys Handicap Tips
Race 4 - Bunbury Cup Tips
Race 5 - Superlative Stakes Tips
Race 6 - July Cup Tips
Race 7 - Maiden Fillies' Stakes Tips
Race 8 - World Pool Handicap Tips

The Group 1 sprint feature is supported by a strong undercard, bringing the three-day festival to a fitting conclusion.

Our race-by-race preview for the final day of the 2026 Newmarket July Festival can be found below, while Live Racing & Sports Updates delivers the latest previews, analysis and coverage across all major sporting codes.

Newmarket July Festival 2026 - Day 3 Preview

Race 1 - Maiden Stakes Tips

I'm very much a form student, so maidens where only a couple of the runners have been seen on the track don't really appeal to me. I'll leave the opener alone.

Race 2 - World Pool Fillies' Handicap Tips

William Knight won the inaugural running of this handicap 12 months ago, and 4. True Test deserves her place at the head of the market for Saturday's renewal.

True Test won her maiden over this course and distance last summer before going close in a valuable conditions race at Newbury in September. Knight's filly then spent the winter in Meydan, going down by just a head in a Listed mile before finishing 13th at odds of 250/1 in the 1000 Guineas.

William Buick took the ride when True Test made her handicap debut in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she shaped well to finish sixth from an unfavourable position on the track.

She remains on the same mark after that effort, and this handicap looks considerably weaker. I really fancy her chances.

Race 3 - Weatherbys Handicap Tips

4. Wechaad has three lengths to find with Moonfall from their clash in the Britannia Stakes, but Roger Varian's colt is 7lb better off at the weights for this rematch on the July Course.

Varian's three-year-old was trying a mile for the first time that day and raced a little keenly after being restrained towards the rear of the near-side group. Ray Dawson then had to angle left through traffic in search of racing room along the rail, and Wechaad's challenge flattened out in the closing stages as he finished seventh behind George Boughey's winner.

It certainly wasn't the trip that beat Wechaad at Royal Ascot, and the July Course could suit him better than Ascot.

It's not often Ryan Moore rides for Roger Varian, and his booking has to be viewed as a major positive.

Race 4 - Bunbury Cup Tips

The Bunbury Cup market isn't usually too far wrong, with eight of the last 10 winners returning a single-figure SP. A wider draw has also been preferable, so 4. Great Acclaim must have a huge chance after landing stall 11.

Eve Johnson Houghton's star was ultra-consistent last season, winning at Goodwood and Chepstow between placed efforts at Ascot and here on the July Course.

After a tricky start to this campaign in the Lincoln, Great Acclaim has picked up where he left off, going close at Haydock, in the Victoria Cup and most recently in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

Despite losing by a cumulative margin of just two lengths across those three valuable handicaps, the handicapper has left Great Acclaim on a mark of 100.

Charlie Bishop's mount is at his best over seven furlongs and is more than capable of landing a valuable prize carrying 9st 9lb.

Race 5 - Superlative Stakes Tips

Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien have won eight of the last 10 renewals of the Superlative Stakes between them, and their contenders dominate the betting. Despite a blip at Yarmouth, 3. Al Hudaiba has looked highly progressive, and I fancy he'll get the better of Abraham Lincoln.

Appleby's colt won nicely on debut over the Rowley Mile before sending Tom Marquand to the floor after jinking badly left on his second outing at Yarmouth.

Zac Lloyd enjoyed a much easier time as Al Hudaiba carried a penalty to victory here on the July Course three weeks ago, winning with plenty in hand.

This son of Dark Angel will certainly stay further than seven furlongs in time.

For now, Al Hudaiba looks entirely comfortable at the trip, and that previous experience on the July Course should stand him in good stead.

Race 6 - July Cup Tips

Eight of the last 10 winners of the July Cup were drawn in stall nine or higher. With only 11 runners in this year's field, that trend may not be as significant, but I still think a low draw could prove detrimental for the likes of Division and Big Mojo.

Most winners over the past decade have come down the centre of the track, which is good news for supporters of Venetian Sun and Satono Reve, who have drawn stalls nine and eight respectively.

Both are too short for me in a high-class sprint, where I'd rather chance an outsider. The one who catches my eye at a big price is 8. Coppull.

Clive Cox's colt won the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last season and wasn't beaten far when third in the Middle Park Stakes. Coppull toughed it out to land the Commonwealth Cup Trial on his seasonal reappearance and was sent off at a single-figure price for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Rossa Ryan's mount broke well but, instead of tracking Venetian Sun, who was drawn immediately to his inside, Coppull was switched across to the smaller group on the stands' side. With two furlongs to run, it became abundantly clear that the central group held a decisive advantage.

To his credit, Coppull won his race on the stands' side but still crossed the line around six lengths behind Venetian Sun.

Coppull is a strong stayer at the trip and receives a handy weight-for-age allowance. He relishes fast ground, has already won on similarly demanding tracks such as Leicester and Goodwood, and is tactically versatile.

Saffie Osborne takes the ride on Saturday and should have plenty of options from stall six.

Coppull boasts plenty of solid form, and Clive Cox knows exactly what it takes to win the July Cup, having saddled the winners in 2013 and 2017.

Race 7 - Maiden Fillies' Stakes Tips

Leadman is favourite to make it back-to-back wins in this handicap, but I'd rather side with 4. Sword in the hope he can build on a fine performance at York last month.

Ian Williams' five-year-old has shown plenty of ability throughout his career but has often struggled for consistency. Sword won on his second start of last season and went close in a competitive handicap at Newcastle in October, with several disappointing performances sandwiched in between.

Sword was sent off at 80/1 in an apprentice handicap at York but flew home under Olivia Haines to finish less than a length behind Our Havana.

Marco Ghiani takes over in the saddle, and Williams' charge is racing off a winnable mark.

Race 8 - World Pool Handicap Tips

Three of the six runners in this card-closing handicap arrive off the back of victories, and 5. Cape Fear looks the one best equipped to follow up.

Andrew Balding's youngster went close in 10-furlong novice races at Beverley, Windsor and Redcar before stepping up to a mile-and-a-half to break through with a comfortable victory at Lingfield three weeks ago.

The handicapper has handed Oisin Murphy's mount what looks a lenient opening mark for his handicap debut.

Cape Fear also receives a handy weight-for-age allowance from his older rivals, and a winning favourite looks likely in the lucky last.

Verdict

Newmarket July Festival 2026 - Day 3 Preview

Our best and value bets for Newmarket July Festival Day 3 are:

Al Hudaiba

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