Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 25th October 2025

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Newbury Park & Doncaster

Newbury Park

D&H Racing Stakes (Listed) (Fillies) 2.00
Senorita Vega
It should come as no surprise that I’m on Senorita Vega for this Fillies Stakes. That said, she’ll have to prove that she can act on this soft going, but she did win here on ground with some cut in it two runs back, plus I think her third in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket stands up to scrutiny in this grade. I’ve gotta think that Karl Burke’s Leading Dancer is going to be the one to make a race of it, and Richard Hannon’s Slay Queen probably won’t be far away. Can’t get away from Senorita Vega though, despite small reservations over the ground, but huh, a girl’s gotta go with her gut feeling right?

BetVictor Horris Hill Stakes (Group 3) 3.10
May Angel
Well, this is a really interesting one for Newbury Park’s last hurray of the Flat season. This week, all the money’s been on Charlie Appleby’s Time To Turn, who didn’t seem to be at his best on Longchamp’s track in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day, which always has a bit of cut in it, where just for the record, Marie-Francoise gave Aidan O’Brien’s Puerto Rico as her next best. Puerto Rico came in of course, much to our pleasure in the office, and with the soft going here, I’m finding it easy to go against the jolly, and tell you this is between Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Pandemonium and John & Thady Gosdens’ May Angel. Pandemonium is an impressive No Nay Never colt, unbeaten in two, but I’ll take the gamble on May Angel, sporting a hood for the first time, to make amends for a down the field finish in the Acomb at York on ground obviously a bit quick. Yep, May Angel it is for me, with Tom Marquand to weave a little bit of his magic in this Group 3!

BetVictor St Simon Stakes (Group 3) 3.45
Hamish (nap)
I cannot get away from Hamish for the St Simon Stakes, and neither should you! A winner of thirteen of twenty-seven starts on the turf, William Haggas’s admirable stayer has been up against the best of them, including going down by a head in this race to a 22/1 shot in 2022, but here the course and the conditions suit, so this time he’s winning this. Obviously, Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom rates a good opponent, and I reckon the two of them will make a race of it, but on ground this deep I’ll be sticking with Hamish. Also, I’ve had a little tickle on the reverse forecast, if that’s your sort of thing, cos anywhere around the 3/1 mark for these two looks a value bet to me. Good Luck!

Doncaster

Skill Step Group Handicap 1.30
Jer Batt
Yep, I think I’m going with Jer Batt for Donny’s opener, and considering he’s got Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy up top, I’m kinda feeling confident. Now, I do reckon that softer ground is the key to getting the best out of this five year old, but he’s got that here and has to be in with a big chance for David & Nicola Barron, who just know how to ready one for these sprints. Roger Teal’s Rosario gets a visor to aid the concentration, but has been backed in this week, while Ollie Stammers’ Sophia’s Starlight will love the conditions, so with a decent draw in Stall 11 is my each-way pick. These are my three, but it’s Oisin Murphy to do what he does best, and bring Jer Batt home!

William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) 2.05
Benvenuto Cellini (nb)
Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle squad of three have dominated the ante post market this week, and I for one can understand why. The master trainer has taken this race eleven times before, so there’s every reason to think he’s gonna make it a round dozen with one of them, which I think is gonna be Benvenuto Cellini. This Frankel colt was oh so impressive to me when cruising to the front at Leopardstown in the Champions Juvenile Stakes last time out, and I bet there’s more to come. Christophe Soumillon is up top, suggesting that’s the stable first string, but stablemate Hawk Mountain won the Beresford at the Curragh last month, which is always a Juvenile race to note, so with Wayne Lordan getting the leg up on the other Frankel colt Action, this does look a strong Ballydoyle trio. John & Thady Gosdens’ Oxagon probable rates the main threat to spoil the Ballydoyle party, but I’m sticking with Benvenuto Cellini for the Futurity.

William Hill Prospect Stakes (Listed) 2.40
Lam Yai
This one’s going to Karl Burke with Lam Yai, and she’s gonna make amends for just missing out in the Firth Of Clyde at Ayr last month. Well clear of the field, she looked the winner when taking the lead one furlong out in that Fillies Group 3, until Richard Fahey’s Catching The Moon just reeled her in, but she’s one going the right way for the in form trainer and I’ll take her to win this. Ralph Beckett’s Spanish Waltz and Richard Fahey’s Boston Dan should be in the mix, but both have to give weight to Lam Yai, and I think that’ll tip the balance. Get in Lam Yai!