Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for Saturday 12th July 2025

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Newmarket, York & Ascot

Newmarket

bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) 2.50
More Thunder
I think something has clicked for More Thunder, since William Haggas dropped this Night Of Thunder colt back in trip. So far, he’s now two from three this term, with obvious talent as a sprinter since moving to the Somerville Lodge yard, after Sir Michael Stoute’s retirement at the end of last season, and with a strong finish in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, who knows? 7 furlongs here might be just the thing. I guess that Harry Charlton’s Akkadian Thunder can run him closest, but my gut tells me there’s more to come from More Thunder, especially as he’s 3lbs well in.

bet365 Mile Handicap 3.25
Fifth Column
This winners gonna be in blue, but I reckon it’s blue with a white cap for John & Thady Gosden with Fifth Column. Looking back at the Britannia at Ascot’s Royal do, he was first of ten in his group, in a week where you just had to be on the stand side on the straight mile, so that seventh place is a better result than it looks, watching that replay. There’s been a bit put down on Bedouin Prince this week, and it is Charlie Appleby’s hunting ground here at Headquarters – I’ll give you that, but It’s Fifth Column to march home for me!

bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) 4.00
Wild Desert
Right girls and boys, I’m in the mood to take a chance here on Wild Desert. Ooh, la la, as Marie-Francoise would say, I’m going against the hot favourite Italy, and here’s why. Number 1, racing experience on this track counts for me. Number 2, Wild Desert was a bit unlucky not to win here last time out, and next door to Saba Desert could be drawn into the race by his stablemate. Number 3, odds-on favourite Italy has won well at Leopardstown on his debut, but this is a totally different ball game, you know, travelling over from Ireland, settling in, even the blast of hot weather and a track that asks completely different questions for a two year old that has run just the once. So there we are, I think I’ll stick with Wild Desert, the half-brother to last year’s winner Shadow Of Light, with all my bits crossed.

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (Group 1) 4.35
Symbol Of Honour
Well here we go, it’s the feature but I cannot honestly tell you what’s going to win it! Which ain’t too good really, as that’s why I’m here, so here we go. I’ll stick my pin on Symbol Of Honour, because, although stable first string jockey William Buick, riding high after his 2,000th winner this week, has decided to get the leg-up on Notable Speech, I’m just not sure that the drop back in trip is what he needs. I mean, he’s a Dubawi colt, so you’d be looking for him to go further really, but what do I know! I did talk to Marie-Francoise this week after the Podcast, and she’s big on two here, Believing and Inisherin. Now, I do think that Inisherin has a bit to prove after a poor show at Royal Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth, so Believing looks a safer bet, but Symbol Of Honour is the one for me.

York

John Smith’s City Wall Stakes (Listed) 2.35
JM Jungle
I can’t, just can’t look any further than John & Sean Quinn’s JM Jungle for the City Walls Sprint. You might be used to seeing him in handicaps, but I can’t see any reason why he’s capable of getting some Black Type here. Of course, Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights takes a big drop in grade to this Listed contest, but I’d be more worried about Richard Hughes Star Of Mehmas getting in on the act, given that this is a warm up before a go at the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood next month. JM Jungle to take this from the front, and blaze a trail from the get-go!

John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 3.10
See That Storm
I have seen that there’s been plenty of lolly going down on Archivist this week, but my wad’s on See That Storm. I do think that Ed Bethell’s Storm The Stars gelding has more to come this year, and he’s not done badly so far, with a couple of good runs at Redcar before a fine second here over course and distance in May. I’m pretty sure these conditions are going to be fine, so See That Storm is the one for me, with Archivist and Harry Charlton’s Hand Of God likely to make a race of it.

John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3) 3.45
Al Qareem (nb)
It’s Al Qareem for me all day long for the Silver Cup Stakes at York. There’s only six lining up, and that could even be less if it gets too sultry, but Al Qareem is the hottest ticket in town for this Group 3. There was no stopping him when beating Willie Mullins’s Absurde by four and a half lengths last month, so more of the same please over this course and distance. Andrew Balding’s Subsequent rates the big danger, but hasn’t been trackside sine October last, while Gordon Elliott’s Samui is an interesting one under Hollie Doyle. In my opinion, Al Qareem is easy to back and going to be winning this!

Ascot

Cornish Orchards Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2) 2.22
Haatem (nap)
I’m finding Haatem easy to put on my list, and even though Never So Brave has been edging it in the markets this week, Haatem’s my man! I do think that Simon & Ed Crisford’s Quddwah has untapped potential, and is pretty lightly raced but something wasn’t clicking in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, though he did win this last year so has to be on the shortlist. Yowzee, it’s Haatem for me, and you’ve get to got on it!