Blue Bolt
Blue Bolt
10th-Jul-2026
Precise is a potential superstar, she was so good in winning the Irish Guineas and she followed up in the Coronation Stakes, and it may be that she is only getting going. But she is short enough here, taking on the older fillies in the Falmouth Stakes, a race in which, historically, the older fillies just about have the upper hand.
Jancis was tempting at the price. I still think that Willie McCreery’s filly is an under-rated filly, and she ran a big race at a big price when we had her on side last time at Royal Ascot to finish second in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.
I just fear that the pace may not be fast enough for her here. Venosa is probably a pace-maker, but they may ignore her if she goes too fast. Venetian Lace is the only other potential front-runner in the race, and she doesn't have to lead, and William Buick is top class, he is obviously clever enough to sit off the pace if Venosa goes too fast. He could dictate a pace to suit himself on Venetian Lace, whether that is in front or in second place behind Venosa. As we saw again yesterday, it is difficult to make ground from the rear on the July course, and she would probably have to come with her run out in the middle of the track, away from the favoured stands rail.
As well as that, the times yesterday suggest that the ground at Newmarket may not be as fast as the official description of good to firm, and the ground can’t be fast enough for Jancis. I am leaving her alone today, in the hope that we will get her again later in the season. The Nassau Stakes could be a good race for her if the ground is fast, stepping up to 10 furlongs for the first time. She saw out the nine-furlong trip well in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket in May, and she could improve again for stepping up to 10 furlongs.
I am backing Blue Bolt. She is rock solid. She only beat Jancis by less than two lengths at Royal Ascot, getting 3lb, but she won more easily than that suggests.
Unraced as a juvenile, Andrew Balding’s filly was a progressive filly last season as a three-year-old. She won the Listed Distaff Stakes on Eclipse day at Sandown around this time last year, and she rounded off her season by finishing a good second behind the top-class Fallen Angel in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, when she had Cinderella’s Dream, winner of this race last year, well behind her in third.
She gives the impression that she is only getting going now. She was impressive in winning a listed race at Goodwood in early May, quickening up smartly off a sedate pace, and she took a nice step forward then last time at Royal Ascot. That was just her eighth run, she has had the same number of runs as the year-younger Precise, and she promises more.
BLUE BOLT WON (ADV 11/4, SP 85/40)
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