Fresh from winning his ninth Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday, top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien will be back in the UK this week for the three-day Newmarket July Festival. So, we take a look at his main Newmarket July Festival runners as the Ballydoyle maestro looks head back across the Irish Sea with more top race successes.
Aidan O’Brien Newmarket July Festival Runners 2025 – Can Whistlejacket Win At The Meeting Again?
During the 2024 Newmarket July Festival, Aidan O’Brien only sent out one winner at the meeting – which was Whistlejacket in the July Stakes.
His sole 2024 winner goes again this year – as he lines up in the Group One July Cup on Saturday that carries a £340,000 first prize.
However, after a fruitful 2025 campaign on UK soil, the Coolmore handler will be well-fancied to improve on last year’s tally.
So, what are the main Aidan O’Brien Newmarket runners to look for at the July Festival this week?
Thursday 10th July 2025
1:50 Bahrain Trophy Stakes: SCANDINAVIA
Aidan O’Brien has won the opening Newmarket July Festival race twice in the past (see below) – but his most recent was back in 2016.
And having had Galveston in the race earlier in the week – pins his hopes on just one now Scandinavia.
Scandinavia was last seen running at Royal Ascot. When 5th in the G2 Queen’s Vase over 1m6f – so we know he stays, and this would also be an ease in class (watch below).
Ryan Moore gets the leg-up as he looks for his first win in the race since Housesofparliment in 2016.
Aidan O’Brien Past Wins In The Bahrain Trophy
- 1999 – Moon Dragon
- 2016 – Housesofparliment
2:25 July Stakes: BRUSSELS
This is the only Newmarket July Festival race Aidan O’Brien won last year, so anything he runs has to be respected. He landed the prize with Whistlejacket in 2024.
In total he’s won the race three times (see below) and pins his hopes on a fourth this year with Brussels.
This son of Wootton Bassett, who seem to be winning everything at the moment, was a nice winner on debut at the Curragh in May and is interesting connections bypassed Royal Ascot to take their time with him.
The second in that race – Kansas – has also since come out and franked the form by winning at Tipperary. Ryan Moore, who also rode last year’s winner, get the ride.
Godolphin’s Maximized looks the main danger to Brussels.
Aidan O’Brien Past Wins In The July Stakes
- 2005 – Ivan Denisovich
- 2019 – Royal Lytham
- 2024 – Whistlejacket
Friday 11th July 2025
3:35 Falmouth Stakes: JANUARY
Aidan O’Brien has won the Falmouth Stakes twice before. Coming in ‘back-to-back’ years in 2016 and 2017 (see below).
He’ll be trying to add a third in this Group One fillies and mares race just one sole entry – January. Despite having Bedtime Story and Exactly entered earlier in the week.
January was last seen running third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (watch below), which is rock-solid form.
While last season she was second to this season’s 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower in the Fillies’ Mile.
January heads the betting with Godolphin’s Cinderella’s Dream – who will be looking to give trainer Charlie Appleby a first Falmouth Stakes win.
Aidan O’Brien Past Wins In The Falmouth Stakes
- 2016 – Alice Springs
- 2017 – Roly Poly
4:10 Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes: CONSTITUTION RIVER
This is a race this year’s Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold won. So whichever horse wins is certainly worth noting.
That was the second win in three years for the Gosden camp in this race. Therefore, anything they send to post should also be noted.
O’Brien looks to be targeting the prize too though – he had seven entered earlier in the week, but has come down on just one – Constitution River.
Ryan Moore will ride this unraced €400k Wootton Bassett colt and is sure to be well found in the betting.
Saturday 12th July 2025
1:40 Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes: PRECISE
O’Brien won this race in 2015 with the aptly-named Ballydoyle and could try to add to that with the unraced Precise.
This Starspangledbanner filly also held entries this week at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, which is a clear sign she’s ready to rumble.
If turning up here, the betting will, of course, be our best guide to her chance.
4:00 Superlative Stakes: ITALY & DORSET
Aidan O’Brien has won this race four times in the past – with his most recent his subsequent Derby winner City Of Troy in 2023.
He could have another good one on his hands here too in Italy, who impressed on debut at Leopardstown in May.
That win has seen him shoot to the head of the 2026 Derby market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
He looked to need every yard of the trip the last day, so the stiffer Ascot track will suit. While he’s sure to have learned plenty form that as well.
It’s interesting that connections bypassed Royal Ascot too – preferring to give him a small break of 57 days.
If turning up here is expected to be hard to beat.
Aidan O’Brien Past Wins In The Superlative Stakes
- 1999 – Thady Quill
- 2005 – Horatio Nelson
- 2017 – Gustav Klimt
- 2023 – City Of Troy
4:35 July Cup Stakes: WHISTLEJACKET & IDES OF MARCH
With five July Cup wins, trainer Aidan O’Brien is the joint winning-most trainer in the history of the race.
He’s tied with Charles Morton and Vincent O’Brien, so just one more success will see him take the lead outright.
He could run two – Whistlejacket, who we’ve already mentioned was his only winner at this meeting last season, plus Ides Of March.
Whistlejacket has become a frustrating horse, that has fulfilled the potential many thought he might.
After winning the July Stakes 12 months ago (watch below) Whistlejacket has won twice more from seven runs. One of which was a win over stablemate Ides Of March in a Listed race at Naas in April.
Godolphin’s Notable Speech was supplemented for the July Cup and looks one of the main dangers for the O’Brien runners.
Aidan O’Brien Past Wins In The July Cup Stakes
- 1999 – Stravinsky
- 2001 – Mozart
- 2010 – Starspangledbanner
- 2018 – U S Navy Flag
- 2019 – Ten Sovereigns
When Is The Newmarket July Festival 2025?
🗓️Date: Thurs 10th – Sat 12th July 2025
⏱️Times: 1:40pm to 5:20pm
🏅Group Races: 7
🥇Group One Races: 2
📺TV: ITV Racing & Racing TV
