Racing Preview: Key Upcoming Racing, July 3-7

Here’s a look at the key racing coming up in Ireland and Britain this week.

Along with the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown (Sat), the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and Old Newton Cup at Haydock (Sat) and a valuable mixed card at Tipperary (Thursday), there is the Bellewstown July Festival, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday on the Hill Of Crockafotha, complete with its magnificent views.

Our latest ante-post races are available here

IRELAND

Wednesday to Saturday, July 3^rd to 6^th, the Bellewstown July Festival

Wednesday, July 3rd – A flat card that starts at 5:30pm, with the key races being:

• The €20,000 Drogheda Traders Handicap, 6:30pm, 7f187y, 3yo+ rated 60-90
• The €25,000 Drogheda Traders Plate (QR) Handicap, 7pm, 2m1f22y, 4yo+

Thursday, July 4th – A flat card that starts at 5:25pm, with the key race being:

• The €20,000 Indaver Ireland Handicap, 5:55pm, 5f, 3yo+

Friday, July 5th – Five flat races and three hurdles contests; first race 5:10pm

Saturday, July 6th  – A National Hunt card that start at 4:40pm, with the feature races being:

• The €30,000 Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle, 6:20pm, 2m160y, 5yo+
• The €17,500 Hilltown Hurdle, 6:50pm, 3 miles, 4yo+

https://twitter.com/bellwstownraces

On Thursday July 4^th there is also a very good mixed card at Tipperary (first race, 5:35pm), with the feature races being:

• The €47,500 Coolmore US Navy Flag Tipperary Stakes (7:20pm, Listed Race, 5f, 2yo)
• The €75,000 Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle (7:50pm, 2miles, 4yo+)

Tweets by tipperaryraces

On Friday, they also race at Wexford (first race 5:35pm), where the main race is the €20,000 Cairde Loch Garman Handicap ‘Chase (8:15m, 2m4f, 5yo+ rated 0-109)

On Saturday, they also race at Naas from 1:35pm, with the main races being:

• The €24,000 Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden (2:10pm, 6f, 2yo)
• The €25,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap (3:20pm, 6f, 3yo+)
• The €20,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race (3:55pm, 5f, 3yo+)

Tweets by NaasRacecourse

Sunday, July 7^th

Limerick (1:50pm, flat card), with the feature being the €20,000 Party Time Ltd Marquee Hire Rated Race (4pm, 7f, 3yo+)

Tweets by LimerickRaces

BRITAIN

Here are the key races on what will be a big two days of racing (Friday and Saturday) at Sandown Park, with the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes being the main race, and three days (Thursday to Saturday) at Haydock Park, where the Saturday card includes the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and the £100,000 Old Newton Cup

Sandown’s Friday card (first race, 1:50pm) contains two Listed Races, one carrying £40,000 in prize-money, the other £30,000, plus a £40,000 10f handicap.

Sandown’s Saturday card, which starts at 1:50pm, includes the following:

• £70,000 Group 3 Coral Charge (1:50pm, 5f10y, 3yo+)
• £75,000 Coral Charge Handicap (2:25pm, 8f, 3yo+)
• £40,000 Coral Distaff (3pm, Listed Race for 3yo fillies, 8f)
• £750,000 Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (3:35pm, im1f209y, 3yo+)
• £40,000 Coral Marathon (4:45pm, Listed Race, 2m50y, 4yo+)

Tweets by Sandownpark

 

Haydock’s Saturday card, which starts at 2:05pm, includes the following:

• £100,000 bet365 Handicap (2:05pm, 1m6f, 3yo)
• £93,000 bet365 Group 2 Lancashire Oaks (2:40pm, fillies and mares, 1m3f175y, 3yo+)
• £100,000 bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap (3:15pm, 1m3f175y, 4yo+)
• The card also includes a £20,000 nursery (6f, 3:50pm) and a £22,500 Conditions Stakes race (4:25pm, 6f, 3yo+) and a £20,000 handicap (5pm, 6f, 3yo+)

Tweets by haydockraces

Also on Saturday, Chelmsford (first race, 1:40pm) the card contains a £20,000 nursery, Leicester’s card (1:55pm) features a £20,000 handicap and Beverley’s card (2pm) features a £25,000 fillies’ handicap

Sunday’s racing

Ayr (2pm) – the main race is a £14,000 mile handicap

Market Rasen (2:!0pm) – the main race is a £20,000 handicap hurdle, the Amazing Maze Maize Handicap Hurdle (4:50pm, 4yo+ rated 0-145)