Impossible to oppose unbeaten Inspiral

Inspiral is a far from inspired pick in the Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes, but she really is the only option in the feature event on day two of Newmarket’s July Festival on Friday.

Unbeaten in four juvenile outings, culminating in Group 1 glory in the Fillies’ Mile, Inspiral missed her 1000 Guineas target in the spring as connections felt she simply was not ready for action so the daughter of Frankel made her belated seasonal bow at Royal Ascot.

Lining up against the English and French Guineas winners, Inspiral was supreme, overcoming a bit of race-rustiness to win by just short of five lengths after displaying an electric turn of foot.

It will be a huge shock if she were to be beaten.

The Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes is the other highlight and Mawj could be the one to follow.

Saeed bin Suroor’s charge beat Believing on the Rowley Mile course on her debut in May, coming home 4.75 lengths clear of a filly who went on to register an incredible win at Wolverhampton after getting left at the start, before taking a Listed second behind Lezoo at Newmarket last month.

Mawj meanwhile went to Royal Ascot, where she found only Meditate too good in the Albany Stakes after getting a bit outpaced a 400m out before staying on again.

She was sent off favourite that day and while 1400m looks likely to suit in time, she could still be good enough in this 1200m contest.

New London is worth a chance in the bet365 Handicap as he makes his debut in this sphere.

Winner of his only juvenile start, New London impressed Charlie Appleby with a 2.25-length novice win, so much so that he raised his sights to a Classic trial at Chester.

Ultimately outclassed by Changingoftheguard in the Chester Vase, New London perhaps did not enjoy the Roodee circuit or the switch up to an extended 2400m.

Back to his winning distance of 2000m, a starting mark of 99 does not look insurmountable for this Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe entry.

Candleford hosed up by six lengths at Royal Ascot, prompting a 6kg penalty. He is still an attractive proposition in the bet365 Trophy though, as he certainly wasn’t stopping at the finish in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes and another 400m looks well within his compass.

Benefit can graduate to Group 3 level in the William Hill Summer Stakes at York. Clive Cox’s charge was twice a winner as a juvenile but failed to make any impact when moved up to 1400m for a crack at a Classic trial at the start of the year.

However, dropped back to sprint trips, Benefit has found her groove, chasing home Sense Of Duty in a Haydock Listed heat in May before going on to score in that class at Salisbury last time out. That penultimate run has worked out well with Sense Of Duty subsequently hacking up in the Chipchase Stakes while she beat a fine yardstick in Nahaarr last time.

The Platinum Queen should be happier back in the calmer waters of the William Hill Play Responsibly Irish EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes after failing to make a Royal Ascot impact. She was set a stiff task in making the leap from winning a Ripon novice to tackling the Queen Mary, where she was beaten over seven lengths in 13th place.

This looks a more reasonable option.

Surrey Mist is the pick in Ascot’s Long Harbour Derek Lucie-Smith Handicap after not being beaten far at the Royal meeting.

Seventh, though only 2.50 lengths adrift of the winner, in the King George V Stakes, Surrey Mist remains on a fair mark with a switch back to 2000m taken to suit. – Press Association

Top tips for Friday’s UK meetings

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 14.15 Flying Honours, Race 2: 14.50 NEW LONDON (NAP), Race 3: 15.25 Mawj, Race 4: 16.00 Candleford, Race 5: 16.35 Inspiral, Race 6: 17.10 Nizaaka, Race 7: 17.45 Celsius.

YORK: Race 1: 15.05 Fairmac, Race 2: 15.40 Benefit, Race 3: 16.15 The Platinum Queen, Race 4: 16.50 Highland Premiere, Race 5: 17.25 Saleymm, Race 6: 18.00 Guest List, Race 7: 18.30 Beautiful Surprise.

ASCOT: Race 1: 15.15 It's Chico Time, Race 2: 15.50 First Officer, Race 3: 16.25 Al Marmar, Race 4: 17.00 Hello Jumeirah, Race 5: 17.36 Surrey Mist, Race 6: 18.11 Asad, Race 7: 18.45 Counsel.

CHESTER: Race 1: 19.00 Carnival Zain, Race 2: 19.30 Boom Boom Pow, Race 3: 20.00 Box To Box, Race 4: 20.30 Double O, Race 5: 21.00 Madrinho, Race 6: 21.30 Enduring, Race 7: 22.00 Rozalia.

CHEPSTOW: Race 1: 19.15 Bug Boy, Race 2: 19.45 Rhubarb, Race 3: 20.15 Silent Flame, Race 4: 20.45 Devon Envoy, Race 5: 21.15 Atlantic Heart, Race 6: 21.45 Soldier's Son.

ALL TO COME: New London and Inspiral (Newmarket, Races 2 and 5).

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