Newmarket July Festival Preview

Introducing the Newmarket July Festival

The Newmarket July Festival is one of Britain’s most iconic summer racing events, held annually at the historic July Course. Originating in the 19th century, it has long showcased elite flat racing and offers excellent betting opportunities for punters.

The festival features prestigious races like the July Cup, Princess of Wales Stakes, and the Falmouth Stakes, attracting top horses, jockeys, and trainers worldwide. Beyond the racing, it’s renowned for its fashion and social atmosphere, attracting enormous crowds across the three days.

The festival plays a key role in the British racing calendar, though it’s not as prestigious as the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, which are also held annually at Newmarket.

When & Where is the Newmarket July Festival?

Newmarket Racecourse is one of the best-known horse racing tracks in the United Kingdom, located in Suffolk, England.

Rowley Mile is the track for the Guineas, but the July Course plays host to a fabulous three-day summer festival, attracting punters from across the UK and further afield.

This three-day festival runs from Thursday, 10th July to Saturday, 12th July 2025. Here’s an overview of the major races on each day of the festival:

• 10th July – Ladies’ Day: Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, Bahrain Trophy, Princess of Wales Stakes.

• 11th July – Festival Friday: Falmouth Stakes, Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

• 12th July – July Cup Day: Mile Handicap, Superlative Stakes, Bunbury Cup, July Cup Stakes.

Previewing the Newmarket July Festival: Major Races to Bet On

Day One

The Princess of Wales Stakes is a prestigious Group Two flat race held on Thursday, 10 July 2025, at Newmarket’s July Course. Open to thoroughbreds aged three and up, it spans one mile four furlongs and offers around £100,000 in prize money. Established in 1894, it remains a key mid-season middle-distance contest.

Day Two

The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes is a prestigious Group Two flat race for two-year-old fillies, held at Newmarket’s July Course on Friday, 11 July 2025. It runs over six furlongs on turf, offers a total purse of around £100,000, and has been a key proving ground for future 1,000 Guineas contenders.

Day Three

The star attraction of this three-day racing festival is the July Cup Stakes on day three. The July Cup Stakes is a prestigious Group One sprint at Newmarket’s July Course. Open to horses aged three and over, it’s run over six furlongs under weight-for-age conditions and offers £600,000 in prize money.

July Cup: Previous Winners and Successful Trainers

Only one horse has won the July Cup three times: Sundridge in 1902, 1903, and 1904. Mill Stream rode to victory under William Buick in 2024, while Rossa Ryan romped home on Shaquille in the 2024 July Cup for an impressive victory for Julie Camacho.

The legendary Lester Piggott is the most successful jockey in July Cup history, riding ten winners between 1957 and 1992. The talented Ryan Moore has two wins in this famous race and will likely be on board an Aidan O’Brien horse in the 2025 July Cup.

As for trainers, Charles Morton, Vincent O’Brien, and Aidan O’Brien have all trained five July Cup winners, giving AP the chance to make history as the most successful trainer by winning in 2025. AP’s wins came with Stravinsky (1999), Mozart (2001), Starspangledbanner (2010), US Navy Flag (2018), and Ten Sovereigns (2019).

Here’s an overview of the last ten winners of the July Cup, including runners, riders, and trainers:

July Cup 2025 – Who is Running?

Of all the 2025 July Cup runners, we like Symbol of Honour, the Charlie Appleby grey gelding who has gone well in numerous recent races. He won the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park under William Buick the last time out, which followed his impressive win at Newbury earlier in May. He’s among the ante-post favourites to win the 2025 July Cup.

Another ante-post favourite for the July Cup this year is Flora of Bermuda. This bay filly from the Balding stable finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in June and looks in fine fettle ahead of the Newmarket meet.

You can also jump on Inisherin in the July Cup ante-post market at Parimatch. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, he won the Duke of York Clipper Stakes in May under Ryan Moore and has looked impressive in numerous high-profile races to date.

If you fancy backing an AP O’Brien runner in the 2025 July Cup, Whistlejacket is the best prospect, a winner at Navan back in April.

Bet on the July Newmarket Festival at Parimatch

You can bet on the July Cup and all other races at the July Newmarket Festival by creating an account at Parimatch. Click the “Sign Up” button on our homepage and complete the registration form in seconds.

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