Odds-on favourite Precise struck down by Blue Bolt in Falmouth Stakes

The Group One Falmouth Stakes has proved a tough assignment for favourites in recent years and Precise, at 4-5, was the fifth of the last seven odds-on shots to let the punters down, as she could finish only a two-length second behind Andrew Balding’s year-older Blue Bolt here on Friday.

Precise arrived at Newmarket with two Group One wins to her name already this season, while Blue Bolt had finished second in last October’s Sun Chariot Stakes on her only previous start at the highest level. The pair were among four runners in a line across the track inside the final two furlongs, but Blue Bolt found the sharpest burst of acceleration to pull clear of her field.

“She’s quality,” Balding said. “Obviously, she looked good at [Royal] Ascot [in the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes] and it’s just nice to see her do it today in that style. She was getting a little lonely at the end, but she’s just got that amazing cruising speed and the ability to sustain it. She’s an exceptional miler.

“Since her debut at Southwell [when Blue Bolt finished fifth of nine], which seems a long time ago, she’s never put a foot wrong on the racecourse. My only concern today was that quick ground at Newmarket might have caught her out, but it didn’t.”

Precise, meanwhile, may now step up in trip and should have no issues getting at least a mile-and-a-quarter, as her dam, Way To My Heart, was by the Derby winner Galileo.

“We always thought she would stay,” Aidan O’Brien, her trainer, said. “We left her at a mile when we had the other filly [Diamond Necklace, the French Oaks winner] going a mile-and-a-quarter next time.

“It was a very good run today and the winner is a good filly. The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf [at Keeneland in Kentucky in late October] could be a long-term aim, she should be very comfortable and happy with that.”

Earlier on the card, Senorita Bonita, the 900,000 guineas (£945,000) top lot at the Craven breeze-up sale here in the spring, repaid another instalment of her purchase price in the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, winning by three-quarters of a length under Oisin Murphy.

She will now step up to Group One company, with the Prix Morny at Deauville next month a likely assignment.

“Her turn of foot was electric today,” Ed Crisford, the winner’s trainer, said. “I think we’ll give her a go in Deauville.”

Expect more from Satono Reve in July Cup

Satono Reve, Japan’s leading sprinter, was edged out in the dying strides for the second year running in the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month but can gain at least a measure of compensation with a win in Saturday’s July Cup at Newmarket.

Satono Reve did almost everything right at Ascot but succumbed to the flying finish of Almeraq on the stiff climb to the line.

Newmarket’s July course is less demanding at the business end and Christophe Lemaire, successful on Satono Reve (4.35) in a Grade One in Japan earlier in the year, should get a decent tow into the race from the speedy Quinault in stall three.

Ryan Moore’s drive on Satono Reve just failed to land the spoils at Royal Ascot. Photograph: Martin Dokoupil/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

Newmarket 1.40 A maiden to watch with an eye to the future and it would be no surprise were Al Wathba to follow the lead of Desert Flower, the subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner, by making a successful debut for Charlie Appleby.

Ascot 1.55 The high numbers were dominant on the straight track at the Royal meeting and the speedy Schrodinger’s Cat can take advantage of an excellent pitch in stall 13.

Newmarket 2.15 The form of Machadadorp’s narrow win last time was franked when the second went in next time up, and her opening mark of 86 looks more than fair.

Ascot 2.27 There was plenty of pace in the Queen Anne Stakes when More Thunder and Zeus Olympios were second and fourth respectively, and a steadier gallop here could shift the balance towards Karl Burke’s progressive four-year-old.

York 2.39 The Lost King was drawn out of it in four in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but his earlier form in this grade at Newmarket gives him a big chance to bounce back.

Newmarket 2.52 The lightly raced Alfaraz has steadily learned to settle in his races and has little obvious competition for the lead.

York 3.12 Katie Scott’s filly Luna A Inbhir Nis continues to improve and posted another career best in a Group Three at Sandown last weekend. This is a quick turnaround but she has a live each-way chance on that form.

Newmarket 3.25 This is a much hotter contest than the one that Physique dominated over course and distance last time, but 33-1 still feels like each-way value given that the form was backed up the clock.

York 3.45 The familiar huge field for the John Smith’s Cup and a single-figure draw is likely to be a big advantage. Quai De Bethune, the winner of a hot handicap at Royal Ascot last summer, had been off for nearly a year before showing up well on his return to action at Epsom last month, and should be much closer to peak fitness here, while a first-time hood could also eke out a little more improvement.

Newmarket 4.00 Abraham Lincoln is the early second-favourite for next season’s 2,000 Guineas but Charlie Appleby’s Al Hudaiba has shown similar promise and his trainer has won this Group Two six times in the last 10 years.

York 4.55 A weak Group Three where Tabletalk can get back to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since his win in the 2024 Melrose Handicap here.