Redkirk Warrior on the gallops at Newmarket
Redkirk Warrior on the gallops at Newmarket

Watering continues at Newmarket ahead of July Festival


Officials at Newmarket say the track is coping well and is in "excellent condition" ahead of the July Meeting.

The ever-popular three-day fixture gets under way on Thursday, with the ground at Headquarters reported as good to firm and watering taking place.

Clerk of the course Michael Prosser said: "The prolonged dry spell means we have only had one inch of rain in the last two months, and only 0.5mm in the whole of June.

"The dry and warm weather is set to continue, with temperatures forecast to dip slightly to the low to mid 20s in the first part of the week, before starting to rise again on Thursday.

"However, the course is in excellent condition and we are very happy with the position we are in. We are irrigating the course extensively and the plan is to continue watering in the build up to the Moet & Chandon July Festival.

"In addition, we are likely to irrigate the course after racing on both Thursday and Friday ahead of the Darley July Cup on Saturday."

Meanwhile, Australian sprint star Redkirk Warrior will be partnered by his regular big race pilot, Regan Bayliss, when he completes his preparations for Saturday's Darley July Cup with a workout on Newmarket's July Course on Monday morning.

The gallop will take place at 8.30am and Redkirk Warrior will work on his own over five furlongs - one furlong shy of the distance he will cover over the same course in the July Cup.

Frankie Dettori was aboard the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained gelding when he finished tenth in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. But Bayliss, who has guided Redkirk Warrior to all three of his Group 1 successes Down Under, will be back aboard in the July Cup.

A 21-year-old who arrived in this country on Saturday, Bayliss has 314 career victories to his name but has never ridden in Europe before.

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