Best of the Weekend Sport. Selections for the Euro 2024 Final and Newmarket July Festival

They made it! Despite riding a wave of criticism throughout the Group stage, Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions outfit will take on Spain in the Euro 2024 Final in Berlin. That clash understandably dwarfs all else on the weekend sporting front, but it isn’t the only event on offer. Saturday sees a cracking edition of the Newmarket July Festival draw to a close, with the signature event of the July Cup taking centre stage.

Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our best bets for what may be a historic weekend of entertainment.

Saturday: bet365 Mile Handicap – Newmarket 2:50

We kick off the punting action in this competitive 16-runner handicap from HQ. Volterra and Qirat bring the best recent form to the table, having each performed with credit in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, whilst handicap debutantes First Conquest and Daarkom looking dangerous hailing from the powerful Charlie Appleby and Godolphin operations. All have chances – particularly First Conquest, whose yard has won three of the past six editions. However, we just prefer another.

Sneaking in towards the foot of the weights, Treasure Time has the look of a potentially well-handicapped contender. He will be making only his third start in handicap company here; his first effort saw him fail to handle the twists and turns of Chester, but next time out, he showed an excellent attitude to land a 7f contest at this track. Jungle Mac made him work that day, but he still looked to have a bit left in the tank to our eyes. A 4lb rise for that looks perfectly fair, with this step up to a mile likely to suit.

• Recommended Bet - Treasure Time each way @ 10/1 LiveScoreBet

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Saturday: bet365 Superlative Stakes – Newmarket 3:25

The two-year-olds are the next to take to the track in a race won by Derby hero City Of Troy in 2023. Whether there is anything of that calibre in this field remains to be seen, but we look to have a lineup brimming with potential. The Parthenon represents 2023's winning connections and could go well if stepping up on his maiden success at Gowran Park. Richard Fahey’s Columnist goes in the Wathnan Racing silks and ran well to finish third in the Coventry Stakes, whilst Pentle Bay arrives on the back of a runners-up effort in the Chesham Stakes.

The hattrick-seeking Line Of Force would be our choice of the each-way contenders, but we suspect this may be all about the favourite. With four wins in the past seven years, Charlie Appleby is no stranger to success in this contest and sends the beautifully bred Ancient Truth in pursuit of the prize this time. By Dubawi and out of Beyond Reason, who won in Group 2 company at this trip, he has landed both previous starts in fine style and can improve his record to a perfect three from three.

• Recommended Bet - Ancient Truth @ 6/4 with BetGoodwin

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Saturday: My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes – Newmarket 4:35

6f is the trip in a race which sees the best of the three-year-old sprinters lock horns with their elders. The betting suggests the three-year-olds are the ones to focus on this year, with the top three in the market all hailing from the Classic generation – including Inisherin and River Tiber, who both lined up in a Guineas earlier in the campaign. Both are respected, but we aren’t sure this three-year-old crop is as far ahead of the older runners as the odds suggest.

When seeking an older horse to support, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is the obvious place to turn. Khaadem won that day but has always thrived on a quick surface, which seems highly unlikely here. Side instead with the mare who finished second to him at Ascot – the Karl Burke-trained Swingalong. Doing much the best of those who raced on the pace, she was only run down by a Group 1 performer with his ideal conditions and may prove tougher to peg back on this slower surface.

• Recommended Bet - Swingalong each way @ 22/1 with StarSports

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Sunday: Spain vs England 8pm

And so to the big one. Can England get over the final hurdle? The bookies suggest perhaps not, with Spain odds on favourites to lift the trophy, having been by far and away the most impressive side in the tournament to date. Bolstering their familiar possession game with explosive pace on the wings, they can attack from all angles and look tough to stop.

However, whilst England have fallen some way below the Spanish levels, they are at least improving – better against Switzerland in the Quarter Final, and borderline impressive against the Netherlands - Southgate may have his troops peaking at just the right time.

Spain making it through to the final should at least make this an entertaining game, with Luis de la Fuente showing few signs of deviating from his front-foot approach. We like that scenario for this England side, with Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and co showing what they could do when not facing a massed defence in that first half against the Dutch. Keeping things tight at the back won’t be easy, but we see England causing a Spanish defence, which gave up chances against Germany and France, plenty of problems.

• Recommended Bet - England to Score over 1.5 goals @ 5/2 with Spreadex

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