Owen’s Outsiders: 28-1, 22-1 and 20-1 tips for Day 2 of the July Festival

Day 2 of Newmarket’s July Festival is headlined by the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes. A top-level event for the fillies and mares, Alcohol Free looks to build upon her Coronation Stakes victory, but she’ll face stiff opposition.

York also features on the ITV Racing channel, with their feature being the Group 3 Summer Stakes. We’ll have horse racing tips for all of Friday’s action, but after a 40-1 place on Thursday, it’s time for more outsiders! I’ve picked three more big-priced fancies for Friday and all the details are below.

1.50 Newmarket – bet365 Handicap

John & Thady Gosden perhaps a bigger chance on paper with Peter The Great, but HIGHLAND ROCKER (20-1) is another from the yard with strong claims. He made his debut at Kempton in November, his sole juvenile start, finishing third to UAE Derby winner Rebel’s Romance.

He failed to score on his reappearance at Chelmsford, but he didn’t look the finished article, and made amends two weeks later. Sent off at just 7-1 for the London Gold Cup subsequently, softer ground was blamed for a very below-par effort.

That obviously wasn’t his true running and I’m prepared to forgive that effort. Prior to that Newbury run, he’d shaped like a horse with a bright future and a mark of 91 remains achievable. He now has his ideal surface and is partnered by the in-form Rab Havlin too. There will be no excuses today and I think a hasty reaction to his Newbury defeat has meant he’s been overpriced at 20-1.

3.00 Newmarket – bet365 Trophy

She’s been a shade below her best in 2021, but HYANNA (28-1) is competitively-rated and capable of a big run. Although winless since June 2020, she’s run well on multiple occasions, including a number of placings off a mark of 99.

The most recent of those came at Goodwood last October and she races off just 95 today for Eve Johnson Houghton. Although safely held in her three starts this term, there has been promise, including a recent run at Royal Ascot where little went right for her (raced wide and dropped to the rear when short of room two furlongs out).

The handicapper has only budged a pound, but as previously mentioned, she’s placed off higher marks in the past. She’s going to have her ideal conditions and Georgia Dobie removes five pounds off her back this time. With a strong gallop to chase at a venue she’s won at in the past, she’s entitled to respect at prohibitive odds.

3.35 Newmarket – Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes

A Group 1 winner last term, CHAMPERS ELYSEES (22-1) ended last campaign with a luckless fourth in the Sun Chariot. Her three runs in 2021 haven’t matched her 2020 form, but she’s certainly capable of better than what she’s shown.

Her most recent start came at Royal Ascot in the Duke Of Cambridge, where she was conceding a five-pound penalty. Given that fact, she didn’t run badly to finish fourth, though it was still short of her peak form.

Perhaps a return to Newmarket can be the catalyst to finally spark her back to her best. She was highly progressive last year, improving with each of her starts, and she’s followed that pattern in 2021. Johnny Murtagh’s string are in great form at present and on her fourth start of the year, you’d be hopeful Murtagh has her just right now.

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