The Newmarket July Festival is one of the premier flat-racing events in the UK, with this year’s edition set to be no different.

The Festival gets underway on Thursday, July 9, and runs over three days, with the final day on Saturday, July 11, which is also known as Cup Day. The first race each day is at 22:40 AEST, with the final race at 02:10 AEST.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Venetian Sun to win

Value bet: Each-Way on Almeraq

Long shot: Each-Way on Double Rush

Betting Preview

Held on the July Course, Newmarket’s summer flat track is a right‑handed, undulating course of about two miles, distinct from the Rowley Mile, which hosts the Guineas in the spring.

There will be between seven and eight races on each day, meaning a total of between 22 and 24 races can be expected over the course of the Festival. Thursday is Ladies’ Day, with Friday known as Festival Friday. Saturday is the July Cup Day, with eight races scheduled.

A mixture of Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 races are held throughout the Newmarket Festival, with the main highlight being the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+) on Saturday (Sunday 01:35 AEST). It is a 6f race, with up to 20 allowed in the field. A prize of AU$873,476.91 is available to the race winner.

Betting Markets to Watch

Looking ahead to the Al Basti Equiworld race as our main focal point, Venetian Sun has been made the early favourite to win the race.

Indeed, her early form makes her a fancied horse, having won the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at the meeting where punters bet on Royal Ascot in June 2026, confirming her as a top‑class 6f sprinter against colts and geldings.

She has six wins from eight starts, including a third, is a dual Royal Ascot winner, and is proven over the July Course following her 2025 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes success. Given that she already has form on the course and can run 6f without trouble, it’s why she’s a market leader.

The William Haggas-trained Almeraq is a legitimate challenger in this race, as he looks like a proper Group‑1 sprinter coming into Newmarket in form. Almeraq won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) over 6f at Royal Ascot on 20 June 2026, beating international raiders Satono Reve and Joliestar in a blanket finish. He is a lightly raced sprinter with multiple 6f wins and high ratings, suggesting he can be a threat.

Our Prediction

Check the latest July Cup betting odds at Sportsbet.

Venetian Sun is our prediction to be the likely winner of the upcoming July Cup at Newmarket. She has all the criteria to be the winner, and comes into it in good, strong form.

As a long shot, Double Rush has value. He landed the Wokingham Stakes (heritage handicap, 6f) at Ascot, completing a hat‑trick of sprint handicaps and doing it off a big weight, which suggests the horse is ready to compete in the biggest races, with one of his wins coming at Newmarket in a 6f meet.