Inaugural bet365 Trophy a hit with horsemen as 69 stayers entered for £120,000 contest
• The 1m6f race will open the second day of the Moët & Chandon July Festival
• bet365 Bunbury Cup attracts 90 entries

12th June 2019 - A move by Newmarket Racecourses to increase opportunities for older staying horses has received the backing of trainers and owners after 69 horses were entered for the inaugural running of the £120,000 bet365 Trophy at the July Course on Friday, 12th July.

The race, a Class 2 Open Handicap over 1m 6f which is part of the Moët & Chandon July Festival, has attracted a number of big names, including the Chester Cup hero Making Miracles. The four-year-old is one of seven Mark Johnston-trained runners entered, with the likes of John Gosden, Roger Varian and Saeed bin Suroor also putting horses forward for the contest.

Staged as the opening race of the second day of the Moët & Chandon July Festival, the bet365 Trophy takes the place of the Silver Bunbury Cup. While the latter race is no longer part of the programme, there remains a Class 3 Handicap over seven furlongs later on the same day’s card, which closes at the six-day stage.

The positive response to the bet365 Trophy comes as 90 entries are also revealed for the bet365 Bunbury Cup, a race steeped in the history of Newmarket. A Heritage Handicap that always proves popular with punters, the bet365 Bunbury Cup was won last year by Burnt Sugar for trainer Roger Fell and the now seven-year-old could bid to defend his crown after being entered for the race this week.

Above The Rest, who won in 2017, is another name to note while Richard Fahey, who has won the race three times since the turn of the decade, has entered six in his bid to win it again, including Zap, the winner of last year’s Silver Bunbury.

Michael Prosser, Regional Head of Racing for The Jockey Club, East Region, said:

“I am delighted with the number and quality of entries for these two fantastic races and am especially encouraged to see the support for the inaugural bet365 Trophy.

“Being for horses aged four years and up, the bet365 Trophy is a perfect opportunity for the older stayer and demonstrates Newmarket Racecourses’ commitment to the discipline. The prize fund of £120,000 also represents significant investment from bet365 and we are grateful to them for their support in creating this exciting contest.

“The bet365 Bunbury Cup is a race rich with heritage and is one of the highlights of the Moët & Chandon July Festival. With such a large number of quality entrants for 2019’s renewal, I have no doubt we are in for another memorable race.”