Jaysella’s and Caroline’s Saturday Selections for 9th May 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Ascot & Lingfield and Caroline’s Naas Picks

Ascot

Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Straight Course) 1.45
Zgharta
Top weight Zgharta could prove difficult to beat in this Fillies’ Handicap, so I’m expecting Oisin Murphy to do the business for me. She was seventh in the Sandringham here at the Royal do last summer, but that was less than 4 lengths behind Ed Walker’s Never Let Go, so wasn’t far off in a field of twenty-five, and I’m sure Andrew Balding has her ready to go on her seasonal reappearance. Martyn Meade’s Politely has clocked up a couple of wins this year on the all weather, so if taking to turf looks on a generous mark, but the one I do feel is gonna be right in the mix is Sean Woods Song N Dance, with Danny Tudhope up top. These are my three, but Zgharta has to be the one to beat under the Champion Jockey.

Carey Group Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) 2.20
Mudbir
If Oisin Murphy can’t take the Fillies’ Handicap on Zgharta, then next up is the feature, the Victoria Cup, where Mudbir is the one to follow. Out of John & Thady Gosdens’ in-form Clarehaven Stables yard, Mudbir goes well fresh and is a Group horse running in a handicap here. Also, I would say that Hamad Al Jehani’s Defence Minister has to be one to keep an eye on, with this pair both handicapped to score at this level, and then further up the weights, Harry Charlton’s Completely Random will be given his usual hold-up ride before making a late bid, so is my each way angle. Mudbir to show his class and land this, before stepping up to some Black Type later this term.

Lingfield

William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 1.28
Romantic Symphony
Plenty to like about the way Romantic Symphony did it at Kempton Park last month, getting into gear from the 2 furlong pole and winning going away. She’s a big, classic looking Dubawi filly, and I do reckon she’ll be hard to beat here, though that said, she’ll be needing to transfer that all-weather form on Kempton’s flat track to Lingfield’s ups and downs and cambers on the course, like I was talking about earlier. Anyway, Aidan O’Brien’s fillies, Cameo and Bloom should have had some exposure to such stuff after running at The Curragh and Navan, so it is race on!! Yeah, hard to get away from Romantic Symphony, who’s one to keep on your list this season, starting here!

William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Listed) 1.58
Isaac Newton (nap)
Gonna be controversial here, and say Aidan O’Brien’s Isaac Newton is beating hot favourite Maho Bay. I do get it that Maho Bay was really impressive in a Novice Stakes at Newmarket, but that’s Charlie Appleby’s hunting ground, so down at Lingfield, I’ll take Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot colt to come out on top. You can bet your bottom dollar that Isaac Newton has been worked on that special course that Vincent O’Brien built to train his Derby hopes on at the Ballydoyle yard, while Tom Marquand gets the leg up on Maltese Cross, who is probably a bigger danger than Maho Bay, for me, on this track. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Balzac is a big price but has a bit of Epsom experience under his belt, but after one run at Newmarket this term, I reckon the apple has dropped for Isaac Newton so he’s the one!

William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 2.40
Royal Velvet
For me, it has to be Royal Velvet for the Chartwell, and I do like have William Buick booked for the ride. It could be that she’s got a bit to find with Andrew Balding’s Copacabana Sands, who’s been getting a bit of support in the markets this week, but it’s her first time out this season and that can make the difference as Royal Velvet has already rocked up at Newmarket last month. She can only strip fitter for that can’t she? so I’m finding this an easy enough decision in maybe not the strongest line-up for a Group 3? Royal Velvet to go in for the in form yard of William Knight, with Copacabana Sands to chase her home.

Naas

Matchbook El Classico 100 Moneyback Special Irish EBF Maiden 2.35
Confucius
I really did like the way that Confucius looked on his racecourse debut, and I’m finding him easy to back for this Maiden. In the end he only went down by a nose at The Curragh, so with a bit more luck in running can go in under Wayne Lordan, who must be on a high after his 1000 Guineas win on True Love last week. Robson Aguiar’s Mehmas colt Bull Shark I think can come on for his two runs, and sometime soon we’ll see him score, but may just need further, while Ger Lyons’s Sioux Nation colt Selwyn will be very interesting on debut, but does come from a wide draw. Yes, it’s got to be Confucius to win this, with Bull Shark likely to go close.

Darley Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial Stakes (Listed) (Fillies) 4.57
Eretria (nb)
Of course, Aidan O’Brien has an outstanding record in this, winning six of the last ten, but I’m telling yuzz that Eretria can win it for Donnacha O’Brien to keep this prize in the family. This Camelot filly looked one far more than ordinary when winning at Leopardstown over 10 furlongs the last day, in what I thought was a competitive maiden, and she wouldn’t have to improve much to take this Listed contest. Ice Dancer is probably the first string of Aidan O’Brien’s pair, but would need to be stepping up from her run in the Group 3 Salsabil, where I was so pleased to see my pick Thundering On take the honours, and I hope you all were on it too? Joseph O’Brien’s Mixed Feelings won well at Leopardstown, and would be the one to watch, but I do think Eretria is winning this.