Bank on Brussels for July joy

Brussels is taken to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with back-to-back wins in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes on Thursday at Newmarket.

The Ballydoyle handler saddled Whistlejacket to land the Group Two prize 12 months ago, his third victory in the race having also struck gold with Ivan Denisovich in 2005 and Royal Lytham in 2019.

It is notable that Brussels, a son of sire-of-the-moment Wootton Bassett, was O'Brien's only entry for this year's renewal and he certainly made a good impression when making a winning debut at the Curragh in late May.

That form looks pretty strong with his stablemate and runner-up Kansas, as well as the third-placed favourite Learntodiscover, winning since.

Juveniles from this yard tend to improve hugely from their first to the second runs and the fact O'Brien feels Brussels is up to a test like this so early in his career speaks volumes.

It could be another profitable afternoon on the July Course for O'Brien, with Scandinavia a tentative choice in the curtain-raising Bahrain Trophy.

Five runners are set to go to post for the Group Three, four of which were last seen contesting the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.

Andrew Balding's Furthur fared best of the quartet in finishing second, with Scandinavia only fifth, but while the former enjoyed a dream trip on the rail, O'Brien's charge was stuck wide most of the way and would almost certainly have finished closer but for that.

With cheek pieces applied for the first time, he can turn the tables to emerge triumphant.

The Group Two Princess of Wales's Stakes stages a rematch between the Hardwicke third and fourth Ghostwriter and Palladium, but at bigger odds it may be worth taking a chance on the Charlie Appleby-trained Arabian Crown.

The son of Dubawi looked a major Derby contender after winning for the fourth time from five starts in last season's Sandown Classic Trial, but he missed Epsom after suffering a setback and subsequently the remainder of his three-year-old campaign.

He did not run badly on his return to action in Dubai in March but disappointed in Sandown's Gordon Richards Stakes the following month, since when he has been gelded and given a break.

It will be interesting to see how he fares on his comeback as he has plenty of untapped potential.

Clive Cox is a dab hand with sprinters and his recent Windsor winner Arabian Sun catches the eye in the £100,000 Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap, while Appleby's Opera Ballo looks the class act on show in the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

The latter looked an exciting prospect after winning his first two starts on the all-weather at Kempton and while he failed to run up to expectations on his turf debut in the Craven Stakes behind the brilliant Field Of Gold, he got the show back on the road with a comfortable Listed success at Sandown.

His enthusiasm needs some harnessing, but Opera Ballo clearly has a massive engine and is expected to defy a penalty before returning to Group-race company later in the summer.

The George Boughey-trained Hey Tru Blue found the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot too much for him last month, but can make the most of having his sights lowered in the Play At The Races Stableduel EBF Maiden Stakes at Doncaster.

Karl Burke's Aspiral was no match for the impressive Awaafi on her Hamilton debut three weeks ago, but a race like the Muckle Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Carlisle should be well within her compass. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

DONCASTER: Race 1: 14.30 Throne Hall, Race 2: 15.00 Hey Tru Blue, Race 3: 15.35 Trafalger, Race 4: 16.10 Commander Of Life, Race 5: 16.45 Khafiz, Race 6: 17.20 Salamanca City, Race 7: 17.55 Winged Messenger, Race 8: 18.30 Onslow Gardens.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 14.50 Scandinavia, Race 2: 15.25 BRUSSELS (NAP), Race 3: 16.00 Arabian Sun, Race 4: 16.35 Arabian Crown, Race 5: 17.10 Night Shining, Race 6: 17.45 Opera Ballo, Race 7: 18.20 Boyfriend.

CARLISLE: Race 1: 15.10 Havana Rum, Race 2: 15.45 Breckenbrough, Race 3: 16.20 Cangofar, Race 4: 16.55 Aspiral, Race 5: 17.32 College Fund, Race 6: 18.07 Mayberry Moon.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 18.25 Pepper Fizz, Race 2: 19.00 Jowalla, Race 3: 19.35 Sioux Warrior, Race 4: 20.10 Comic Hero, Race 5: 20.45 Sea Founder, Race 6: 21.20 Fast Steps, Race 7: 21.55 Bellator Bullet.

EPSOM: Race 1: 18.50 Only One Blue, Race 2: 19.25 Court Of Stars, Race 3: 20.00 Daisy Roots, Race 4: 20.35 Shiplake, Race 5: 21.10 Rockstar Icon, Race 6: 21.45 Pergola.

ALL TO COME: Brussels and Opera Ballo (Newmarket, Races 2 and 6).