The Newmarket July Festival is a must for serious racegoers and this beautiful summer track, a favourite of mine alongside Deauville and Goodwood, will be well attended as usual on Wedneday through till Friday.The revamped course will be officially opened at noon on Wednesday.

Michael Bell has his horses in great form and the ultra consistent JUNIPER GIRL can go one better than at Royal Ascot last time by taking the 'Pitmans Derby' up at Newcastle. This big rangy filly acts on virtually any going and will be coming home well,in what should turn out to be a severe test of stamina,bearing in mind the recent wet conditions that have hit the country. Luke Morriss knows the filly very well and I expect a very good run here.

Get out your posh outfits, and away we go - with the biggest meeting of the year.

Day 1

Not really a betting day for me although I still prefer COCKNEY REBEL in The St James Palace Stakes. The horse is still in great form and has that vital impressive turn of foot that seems to come off any pace.

I spotted Mrs Huffer coming out of a local dress designers the other afternoon,probably with The Royal Ascot frock.
I am quite sure they will be celebrating again if all goes to form because the horse COCKNEY REBEL is in great form and goes with maximum confidence.

Cockney Rebel has been the subject of a firm £10 Million offer reports trainer Geoff Huffer, it only remains to see if it will be accepted following next weeks St James Palace stakes at the Royal Meeting. Readers of this column were lucky enough to back the colt early this year and show a very healthy profit but not as much as owner Mr Cunningham.

Networker made the long trip to Hamilton worthwhile for Charlie McBride and again defied a penalty. The handicapper may just about be geeting a grip on the horse following this exciting run of form.

Charlie Mc Bride has a vastly improved horse in NETWORKER who defied a 6lb penlty to win by a going away 7 lengths at Yarmouth. He will take all the beating in either of his intended engagements at Lingfield on Wednesday or Hamilton on Thursday. The colt is thriving at present and is sure to run a big race.

I hope you followed my recommendation to back NETWORKER at Yarmouth. Despite the 6lb penalty Brett Doyle had a hard job keeping the winning distance to 7 lengths and this improving horse should win again at Lingfield next week.

Well done to all the team at Grange House Stables following
Saturdays victory at The Curragh. Goeff Huffer has done a marvellous job with COCKNEY REBEL and now the world awaits!

On the home front the winners keep flowing and I just hope the recent rain does not affect our own flow.

Peter Chapple Hyam should be on the mark with his improving horse SANDREY who runs in The Coral Heritage Handicap here at HQ on Saturday. Jimmy Fortune is aboard and i can just see him powering the colt to the line. I'll be in The Sponsers as the key turns in the door.

COCKNEY REBEL has come through his preparation for Saturdays Irish 2000gns in great style and in the words of his trainer who spoke to me this morning ' he's come on since Newmarket and should win'

My day at York was enjoyable and profitable. I trust you followed my advice and had a good day. It all started with Henry Cecil, back where he should be, after Passage of Time won The Musidora. Racing folk love the man,and his post race interview suggested he was overwhelmed by the general public's attitude and desire for him to get back to the top.

Passage Of Time a confident pick

I always go to the York Spring meeting,there is something about the place-the racing is good ,the course is immaculate and always attracts a big crowd. I used to stay in The Chase Hotel which overlooks the course, it is now owned by a large consortium and for racegoers is in a prime position with facilities second to none,and drivers to take you round to the track. For those wishing a spot of post race exercise it is an easy walk across the Knavesmire and into the Hotel rear garden. Well worth booking!

Hello again.

Lets hope we have another decent weekend because the racing is very good.

Before discussing the Fayre I must tell you that on my customary visit to Waitrose the other afternoon; lo and behold, I bumped into Geoff Huffer buying even more champagne.

The Guineas weekend has passed us by. It all started with yours truly cursing the riding anticts of McCarthy on Mia's Boy at Lingfield - I know the horse missed the break but was ridden as if on 'Nijinsky' in a donkey derby by his jockey. He was only really allowed to stride on in the last furlong, making up at least 25 lengths on the leaders and he would have most certainly won in another few strides.

A feast of racing awaits us this weekend with meetings everywhere, but like most feasts it is best to choose the tasty delicacies hidden away.

Mias Boy my bet of the week

Another warm breezy day with bright sunshine will have considerably dried out the Rowley Mile Racecourse.

We have had little or no rain in the area for several weeks now and the course officials should commence watering to maintain at least good to firm ground shortly.

Jeremy Noseda was a happy man around 7.45 on Saturday morning. The final touches were put to star filly Sander Camillo in a good paced gallop over racecourse side when she dispelled all the worries over her lack lustre performance in The Nell Gwynne Stakes. She bounced back well and must sureley have been 'wrong at Newmarket last time.

Geoff Huffer was delighted with the racecourse gallop at Lingfield on Wednesday when his 2000 Guineas hope Cockney Rebel easily disposed of Banjo Patterson, his lead horse.

The lack of rain here at HQ had tempted Geoff to make the journey to Lingfield early on Wednesday morning,and he was rewarded with a scintillating show.

A busy week with the run up to the Guineas Festival here at HQ in 10 days time

Jeremy Noseda will be hoping his filly Sander Camillo will have recovered after her run in The Nell Gwyn last week.

Our Newmarket workwatcher uncovers dark horses to follow this Flat season from some of HQ's leading yards.