Newmarket (July), Friday 26 June 2026: Tips and Analysis

Newmarket (July), Friday 26 June 2026: Tips and Analysis

Good to firm ground under sunny skies at Headquarters. Newmarket’s July course rewards horses that can settle and quicken, and on this surface you want animals that have shown they handle fast ground rather than horses whose best form came on softer. Three races stand out today, all at different price points, and there is a genuine 10/1 shot worth a look in the fillies’ handicap opener.

4:45 — ZYN In The Moment British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (6f)

Three runners, which means each-way betting is off the table. This is a straight win market, and Charlie Appleby’s Acting Lady is the one to be on at 4/5 with LiveScore Bet.

Appleby’s record at the July course is exceptional: 28% winners from 529 runners with an A/E of 1.01. That consistency means he almost never wastes a trip here, and when he saddles a juvenile filly on debut or early start in a novice at Newmarket in midsummer, it is usually because connections believe they have a sharp enough type to handle the track first time. Billy Loughnane rides, and his 19% course strike rate adds another layer of confidence.

Richard Spencer’s Sexy Chick is a 4/1 shot and Spencer has been firing in the past fortnight with seven winners from 18 runners. That is a yard in exceptional form. War Banner at 13/8 for William Haggas is also respected, 15% at the track for Beckett in the saddle. But the Appleby machine here on a track he treats like a second home is the play. Back Acting Lady to win.

Selection: Acting Lady (Billy Loughnane) — 4/5 LiveScore Bet

5:50 — ZYN Pacesetter Fillies’ Handicap (6f)

Eight runners, fillies’ handicap over the minimum trip on fast ground. This is the most competitive race on the card and there are at least three genuine contenders.

Polka Blue is the 7/2 favourite with LiveScore Bet for Charles Hills, and that form string of 4-4311 tells the story: she has won twice in her last three starts and is bang in form. Tom Marquand takes the ride. Hills has had 2 from 15 in the past fortnight, which is moderate, but the horse’s own form is hard to ignore at a fair price.

Lara Antipova catches the eye at 11/2 for Tom Clover. A form figure of 2-21 means she has won on her most recent start and was placed before that. Clover hits 17% at Newmarket with an A/E of 1.2, meaning he genuinely beats the market here rather than just backing short-priced favourites. Three runs in total, still lightly raced at three, and on fast ground over six furlongs she looks unexposed.

The each-way angle goes to Powdering Each-Way at 10/1 with Boyle Sports. Michael Herrington’s mare has a 25% strike rate at this track with an A/E of 1.66, which is the standout number in the entire trainer stats column. That figure tells you Herrington’s horses at the July course return a significant profit to level stakes: when he sends one here, they tend to go close. Hector Crouch rides, contributing his own 17% course record. The form of 203360 looks modest on the surface, but a horse at this price for a yard with those course stats on good to firm ground, placed three times, absolutely merits an each-way interest with three places on offer.

Main Selection: Lara Antipova (Charles Bishop) — 11/2 Boyle Sports / LiveScore Bet
Each-Way: Powdering (Hector Crouch) — 10/1 LiveScore Bet

7:35 — Boodles Handicap (7f)

Three runners over seven furlongs to close the card. With only three in the field, each-way is irrelevant. This becomes a straight head-to-head assessment.

Hardy’s Hero at 15/8 with Boyle Sports is the selection. William Haggas has had 11 winners from 53 runners in the past fortnight, a strike rate that puts him firmly in a hot vein of form. Tom Marquand rides again, doubling up on the card. The form of 115-23 shows a horse that won twice in succession, then ran third and second in class: consistent rather than flashy, but on fast ground over seven furlongs at Newmarket that profile often translates.

Marengo Storm for Richard Hughes is a fascinating rival at 13/8. A form line of 512 shows a win and two placed efforts from three starts: lightly raced, potentially progressive. Hughes has only hit 2 from 24 recently though, which is a cold yard by recent standards.

Amorim for George Boughey is the busiest yard here over the past fortnight with seven from 30. That is strong form. But the form figure of 348-03 lacks the recency quality of Hardy’s Hero. Loughnane rides and his course stats are solid, but the Haggas horse is the one to side with at this price.

Selection: Hardy’s Hero (Tom Marquand) — 15/8 Boyle Sports

Today’s NAP

Acting Lady — ZYN In The Moment British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (4:45, Newmarket July)
Odds: 4/5 — LiveScore Bet (others: 8/11 Boyle Sports, SP Betfred)

Charlie Appleby operates at 28% at this track across 529 runners: he does not misfire here. Billy Loughnane adds his own strong course record, and in a three-runner novice on good to firm, the Godolphin operation at Newmarket in midsummer is the safest short-price NAP on the card. Take the 4/5 with LiveScore Bet before it shortens further.