A memorable first visit to one of the two racecourses in flat racing's capital of Newmarket. The July Course has seen plenty of historic moments in its long history with some of the very best in equine talent strutting their stuff on the hallowed turf at some point in their careers.
The Rowley Mile course that lays adjacent to the July Course may own the pride and prestige of the Classics, but the July Course can create stars of the sprinting division with many of the best speedsters over the decades winning the main race of the calendar, the July Cup. From Oasis Dream to Mozart in the late nineties and early two thousands to international winners Agnes World for Japan and Soviet Star for France.
The racecourse prides itself on the aesthetics and the vintage feel of the parade ring and winners' enclosure has been entwined with a modern look of the grandstands. A brand new grandstand and restaurant has opened recently which offers stunning views of the tree lined final two furlongs. The venue has a great summer party feel to it with plenty of music concerts taking place after racing and it is a great place to go racing.
Despite being in the middle of summer, this early August meeting would be a quiet event by Newmarket's high standards with a six race card and unfortunate persistant rain throughout the afternoon. The racecard was headlined by the twelve furlong Chalice Stakes for fillies and mares while a valuable juvenile handicap kicked the card off. Elsewhere, competitive handicaps completed the meeting with an interesting novice with the potential to unearth the next big thing.
The meeting was unsurprisingly dominated by locally trained runners with the ability for horses to finish their race and be tucked up back in the comfort of their stable at home half an hour later. 
Most horses would have preferred to have stayed in the their box at the stables as overnight rain followed into the morning before racing. It led to a change of going descripton from "good" to "soft" and as a result, a total of fourteen non runners were announced which decimated the fields and led to a small amount of runners. Although it can't be helped, it contributed to nullifying some of the excitement.

Race One: The British EBF Ruby Jubilee Fillies' Nursery Handicap - Class 2 - 6 Furlongs - 6 Runners
Winner: FLACCIANELLO (#4) (Cotai Glory x Chilly Morning) - K. Stott - R. Fahey
A tricky nursery handicap opened proceedings to the action on ground that had received plenty of rain throughout the week leading up to the meeting and during the morning. The class two has produced some smart performers over the years, most notably the pair of Group Three winners J Wonder and Rose Of Kildare. Last year saw the Richard Hannon-trained Immortal Beauty land the race in impressive fashion.
This year's renewal saw some promising youngsters with a variety of those dropping in class, arriving on the back of a win last time out and those entering handicaps for the first time. The Alice Haynes-trained Snafiya arrived in top form having won her last two starts in novice company. It may have taken her four starts to break her maiden, but she racked up a double in the space of a week at Doncaster and Thirsk. The Ralph Beckett-trained Say Hello made a quick return to the July Course having won a week ago, appreciating the first time blinkers that day. Flaccianello struggled in Group company recently and would seemingly appreciate the lesser task here.

The worsening conditions saw four runners of the original ten withdrawn which left a field of six to go to post. In the early stages, the in form Snafiya took the field along at a sensible pace as the favourite Say Hello travelled powerfully on her heels. The pack stayed close to the far side rail and navigated the undulations of the home straight. Entering the final furlong, Say Hello continued to catch the eye with her smooth travelling and took over the lead as Rob Hornby kicked on. The purple silks of Amo Racing's Flaccianello gave chase however and the pair locked horns up the gradually inclining final half furlong. It would be the Richard Fahey-trained Flaccianello who nosed ahead for Kevin Stott who is a jockey to follow at the course, following on from his four timer at the July Festival recently. Say Hello had to settle for second as Mirroring finished third for the third time in her career. 
It would be a second win in the young career of Flaccianello who delivered on the promise of her debut once again. Winning impressively at Catterick on her first start in May, she was pitched into Group company straight away in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on her next start. Finishing towards the back that day, she disappointed once again on her latest start at Haydock when dropped in class into nursery handicaps. It is possible that run was aimed at getting her suited to handicaps as she landed this contest with some authority. 

Race Two: The British EBF 40th Anniversary Chalice Stakes - Listed Race - 1 Mile, 4 Furlongs - 10 Runners
Winner: SWEET MEMORIES (#10) (Sea The Stars x Time Control) - H. Doyle - J & T. Gosden
The feature of the day came early in the card and drew in a terrestial TV audience. This listed race for fillies and mares provided another opportunity for the fairer sex to gain some black type by winning or placing in this race to enhance their profile as a broodmare in a later career.
The one mile and four furlong handicap was won last year by Emotion for the John & Thady Gosden stable as owners Qatar Racing celebrated a one-two with Rose Of Kildare chasing the winner home in the same silks. The race's role of honour includes subsequent Group One winner Seal Of Approval, who won this in 2013; the inaugural running. 
The class of 2023 would have to navigate the softer ground conditions, but many high profile stables were represented. Last year's winning trainers John and Thady Gosden relied on unexposed novice winner Sweet Memories, a well bred daughter of Sea The Stars and the smart Spring Fever, a previous winner at Newmarket. The Godolphin outfit called upon Sunset Point who was gradually climbing the handicap levels but made appeal as a relation to the classy Creative Flair. Elsewhere, the well travelled Wickywickywheels made the trip down from Scotland for trainer Jim Goldie, but the long haul journey is something she is accustomed to having raced in Dubai earlier in her career. Also making a long trip was the Donnacha O'Brien-trained three year old Amusement. The daughter of Galileo was just below top class but was lightly raced enough to warrant respect. 

Starting on the Rowley Course, the field would finish on the July Course in this race as they rounded the dog leg right handed turn into the long home straight. Perfect Prophet cut out the early running under Saffie Osborne and once again the field switched lanes to the far side. As the race began to heat up, the likes of Climate Friendly and Spring Fever took over the lead. Sunset Point and Wickywickywheels suffered slight interference when making their challenges, but a gap opened perfectly for Sweet Memories and Hollie Doyle. The well known pink and dark blue silks burst clear with a smart turn of pace and took over in front. Staying the distance very well, the daughter of Sea The Stars finished with daylight between herself and runner up Sunset Point to land the feature. The winning filly is very well bred by the famous Lordship Stud and can include the Group One winning juvenile Cursory Glance as a half sister. Sweet Memories won over a slightly shorter trip last time at Newbury two weeks but quickly stepped up to this level with ease. Clearly appreciating the softening ground, there will be plenty of similar events for fillies and mares' in the coming months and the future looks bright for the three-year-old. 

Race Three: The Turners Handicap - Class 3 - 1 mile, 4 furlongs - 5 Runners
Winner: REINA DEL MAR (#7) (Awtaad x Star Approval) - S. Osborne - E. Walker 
The action remained at twelve furlongs with this class three handicap which was tightly contested by plenty of familiar faces. In a field of only five runners, Capital Theory and Charging Thunder made the trip down south from Yorkshire to take on the home team which consisted of  Hasty Sailor for the legendary Sir Michael Stoute and the filly Reina Del Mar for trainer Ed Walker. Tashi completed the field in this very tight handicap with just a stone separating the runners.

As the drizzle began to fall once again, the depleted race led to to the most impressive performance of the day courtesy of Reina Del Mar. In the early stages, the pace looked a shade too quick as leader Hasty Soldier brought his rivals down the centre of the track. Just like many of his stablemates, Capital Theory was a prominent runner for Charlie Johnston alongside fellow northern raider Charging Thunder. Held up in the last pair, Tashi and Reina Del Mar would eventually come through to fill the forecast. 
As Hasty Soldier began to weaken, the eye was drawn to red hot favourite Reina Del Mar in the light blue silks. She was travelling very smoothly and as her rivals were in the full drive position, Saffie Osborne cruised along on the bridle; affording the luxury of being able to glance around her in the final stages. On testing ground, Osborne nudged her mount forward and Reina Del Mar responded with an empthatic display to win by seven lengths. Tashi won the race for the distant second and Capital Theory held on for third.
The Ed Walker-trained five year old had won on the July Course back in June and was a known soft ground lover. The rain will have been music to her ears and this lightly raced mare of twelve starts can win more on this kind of ground, but the manner of her win means the handicapper will take a harsh view on it. 

Race Four: The Turners British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes - Class 4 - 7 Furlongs - 9 Runners
Winner: HARD TO RESIST (#2) (Dubawi x Magnetic Charm) - C. Fallon - W. Haggas
A fascinating novice for juvenile fillies brought about the highest level of intrigue of the day with plenty of well bred newcomers and individuals who showed talent on their debuts. Just like at other top racecourses such as Ascot or York, future form of races like this is well worth analysing as high class names have appeared in previous runnings of this race. Last year, the John & Thady Gosden-trained Commissioning, a daughter of Kingman, made a sparkling debut. Winning by over three lengths, she would go on to win the Rockfel Stakes and Group One Fillies' Mile. A leading contender for this year's 1,000 Guineas before injury ruled her out, the filly's return to action is still eagerly anticipated. 
A field of six took the start and it would be a rare Newmarket novice without the leading names of Gosden and Appleby in the trainers list. With no representatives from either powerful stable, it gave an opportunity for someone else and the racecard consisted of some interesting and well bred types and those who went close first time out. 
Likely favourite Upscale, owned and bred by Juddmonte and a close runner up on debut, was withdrawn on the eve of the race due to the forecast soft ground.  That left a more open feel to the race despite a weakened than advertised field. Richard Hannon's yard is often synonymous with two year old winners and they ran the twice raced Bourgeoisie. The daughter of Siyouni finished fifth on debut here before going down by a nose last time out at Newbury. The Royal runner Hard To Resist needed to improve greatly on her debut, but came from a talented family.
The newcomers brought a lot of interest about themselves with some potentially smart types on paper. Carrying the famous Cheveley Park Stud colours, Word Play hailed from the Sir Michael Stoute stable and comes from the talented family which includes Group Two placed Fajjaj.  Elsewhere, Seaward made her debut for the Ralph Beckett yard and can include the tough handicapper GM Hopkins amongst her distant relatives.

In another exciting finish in which the lead changed twice in the final stages, there would be a winner for the King to please the crowd as Hard To Resist landed the spoils on her second start. In the early stages, Hard To Resist was always prominent and Cieren Fallon opted to follow the path of the previous race winner by running solo down the centre of the course. He was followed by I Love Paris and Seaward as Bourgeoise, Word Play and Modern Verse raced slightly away on the far side. Entering the final stages, it looked as if Hard To Resist would be swallowed up by the strong travelling Bourgeoise and Jamie Spencer blinked first to lead up the rising ground. The ground may have been a touch too much for the favourite and it gave another chance to Hard To Resist. Under a determined ride by Cieren Fallon, the filly found extra and got back up to deny the Richard Hannon stable and win for William Haggas. Snapping at the front two's heels were the newcomers I Love Paris and Seaward who both went into the notebook on their debuts.
The winner is bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II and is the first foal of the smart Magnetic Charm who landed a listed race at York before going close at Royal Ascot in the Sandringham Handicap. On her debut, Hard To Resist was extremely inexperienced in a similar race here seven weeks ago. Trailing home last of six and beaten nearly forty lengths, she would need to find a ton of improvement to threaten, but with plenty of patience and hard work, the youngster looked much more like a racehorse and duly delivered with a tidy display. The form of the race will be brought into question due to the soft ground, small field and lack of competitiveness, but the Royal filly has a win to her name now and did everything needed. 

Race Five: The Discover Newmarket Handicap - Class 3 - 7 Furlongs - 8 Runners
Winner: OUT THE SHADOWS (#4) (Outstrip x Capla Ishtar) - B. de la Sayette - M. Botti

It was back to handicaps next with another competitive class three event for three-year-olds over the intermediate trip of seven furlongs. 
The lightly raced Kiaraad made most intrigue in the lineup as trainer Ismail Mohammed enlisted the help of William Buick in the saddle. Buick was an interesting booking at Newmarket with the higher class of racing taking place at Goodwood further south. The three-year-old bolted up on his second start at Beverley and entered handicaps at a reasonable level.  There were many questions to be asked about the current of form of most of the field, but David O'Meara's Kentucky Bluegrass defeated the aforementioned Kiaraad when completing a double earlier this year. 
The drizzle began to intensify into full blown rain as the eight runner field bravely left the parade ring and onto the worsening ground. The race would involve another thrilling finish as the favourite was overhauled in the final furlong once again. The compact field were well bunched from the start as some got a bit too close for comfort in the early stages with early leader Burstow coming across runners and causing some slight barging. Previous race winning jockey Cieren Fallon found himself in a clear lead on Burstow as Kiaraad and the slow starting Mustajaab chased him. Will Buick took up the lead entering the final two furlongs as the race began to heat up. Challengers came out of the pack and it would be the Marco Botti-trained Out The Shadows who finished the best to land the race. Ridden by star young rider Benoit de la Sayette, the three year old bounced back to form on the soft to record his third win of his short career. Winning on debut last year, the son of Outstrip ran to a useful standard as a juvenile and won at the start of the year. Given a break since a disappointing effort last time, he arrived at Newmarket a fresher horse than others and it benefitted in energy sapping conditions.  

Race Six: The Turners of Soham Handicap - Class 5 - 5 Furlongs - 5 Runners
Winner: MARY OF MODENA (#5) (Bated Breath x Miss Chicane) - R. Dawson - M. Attwater 

The final contest of the day saw the turn of the speeders with a class five handicap over the sharp five furlongs. 
Last week's Jumps Jockey Nunthorpe Handicap winner Soul Seeker, made a quick return to action following his win at York and had the services of William Buick onboard as another bonus. The likeable Han Solo Berger has been a regular at Newmarket over the years and the now eight-year-old had been getting closer to winning again with each recent start. The total of five runners in the contest lowered the excitement levels, but it was still good to see some hardy types continue to ply their trade. 

The quintet cantered quietly to the start but were in a rush to get home from out of the rain as early leader Han Solo Berger made the running at a relatively strong pace considering the conditions. As the pack moved along the center of the track, they began to fan out to make their challenges which led to an exciting four wide duel at one point. Early leader Han Solo Berger cried enough which left proceedings to Soul Seeker and Mary of Modena. It would be the Michael Attwater-trained four year old Mary of Modena to win and become the fifth female to win on the six race card. Winning for the fifth time in her career, the daughter of Bated Breath was a proven mudlark with previous form on soft ground which meant it was unsurprising to see her finish best of all and win by a narrow margin.