James Doyle is heading into the Debenhams July Festival at Newmarket this week with quiet confidence, as two highly promising contenders await in the Group One features. Representing Wathnan Racing, Doyle is set to ride Flora Of Bermuda in Saturday’s prestigious July Cup and Crimson Advocate in Friday’s Falmouth Stakes.
The July Cup, worth £657,000, is one of the season’s elite six-furlong contests. Doyle will be aboard Flora Of Bermuda, a consistent performer trained by Andrew Balding. Having joined Wathnan Racing ahead of Royal Ascot, Flora Of Bermuda delivered an eye-catching performance there and continues to attract attention despite not yet claiming a Group One victory. Past results suggest real potential, with near misses in some of Europe’s most competitive sprint races, including a standout effort at Ascot last autumn and a strong showing behind Lazzat in France.
Doyle, who previously rode Flora Of Bermuda as a juvenile, believes the performances have often been hindered by racing luck rather than a lack of ability. In recent starts, track position and draw have complicated efforts. Ideally positioned in the middle of the field, Flora Of Bermuda has shown a preference for a patient ride and the ability to finish strongly when space opens up. Ground conditions aren’t much of a concern either, with solid results recorded on both soft and quick going.
Looking at the competition in Saturday’s big race, Doyle is fully aware of the open nature of the field. The late inclusion of Notable Speech brings extra intrigue, and the likes of Believing, Inisherin, and Symbol Of Honour all add different threats. While it’s a deep race, Flora Of Bermuda has proven enough to earn a chance at redemption at this level.
On Friday, attention turns to the mile-long Falmouth Stakes, where Doyle teams up with Crimson Advocate. Originally trained in the U.S., Crimson Advocate has flourished since arriving in Britain and stepping up in distance. Wins at Goodwood and at Royal Ascot in the Group Two Duke Of Cambridge Stakes have underlined progression under the care of John and Thady Gosden.
Although Doyle has yet to partner Crimson Advocate in a race due to a recent injury, familiarity has grown through regular work at home. The horse’s adaptability has been impressive, transitioning from sprint distances in the U.S. to excelling over a mile in the U.K. The strong finish at Ascot demonstrated a lethal turn of foot, and despite receiving weight from others in that contest, the manner of victory was decisive.
There’s some curiosity about how the straight mile at Newmarket will suit, especially as recent wins have come around bends. However, having already succeeded over a straight five furlongs in the Queen Mary Stakes last year, there’s evidence to suggest this won’t be a limiting factor. Confidence is further boosted by the high praise from James McDonald, who noted the horse’s professionalism and top-level potential after the Ascot success.
For Doyle, the July Festival represents more than just two big rides. Based just outside Newmarket, he holds a personal connection to the July Course and has come agonizingly close in this feature before. With the firepower of Wathnan Racing behind him and two seasoned campaigners under his guidance, the 2025 edition offers another chance to convert promise into silverware.
