Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 4th July 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Sandown Park & Newmarket

Sandown Park

Coral Charge (Group 3) 1.50
Words Of Truth
Words Of Truth won the Scurry Stakes here last time out, so I reckon he’s the safe bet to win this. Of course, Australian speedster Asfoora is gonna get plenty of backers, given her record of three Group One wins, but although this is one helluva lot easier than the King Charles III at Ascot’s royal do, I’m not sure that she’s been quite as good this year. So, Words Of Truth rates the big improver for me, with young star Billy Loughnane getting the leg-up, and chuck in last year’s winner Rumstar and third Shagraan, and this is one hot opener. Words Of Truth, getting weight from all but the pair of three year old fillies, has more to come and gets the vote!

Coral Challenge (Handicap) 2.25
Beagle Bay
I’ll take a chance that Beagle Bay is still ahead of the Handicapper for this Coral Challenge, to back up his win here three weeks ago. He showed plenty when scoring at Yarmouth on his handicap debut, and although the ground is gonna be pretty quick, its a stiff finish at Sandown so stamina in the final 2 furlongs should be his asset. Roger Varian’s Indalo was really impressive in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last time, so is my second pick, but I’ll have Ralph Beckett’s Beagle Bay as my number one.

Coral Distaff (Listed) (Fillies) 3.00
Sacred Ground
Okay, here we go again! I keep backing Sacred Ground this season, but she’s becoming a bit expensive to follow. She hit the bar twice, at Newmarket and Newbury Park, then was done on soft ground at Goodwood last month, but I’m going to keep the faith and back John & Thady Gosdens’ Kingman filly once more. After that, that’s it girl!! So, come on Sacred Ground, do it for me now Will Buick has been given the heave-ho in favour of Ryan Moore, though of course I just joke cos he’s over in Saratoga for the Belmont Oaks & Derby! I guess Andrew Balding’s Pacific Mission and Charlie Appleby’s Act Of Kindness would fill my crib sheet, but please, please Sacred Ground, get it all right this time!!

Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) 3.35
Constitution River/Saddadd/Hawk Mountain (nb)
Now for the feature, and it has to be very hard to get away from Aidan O’Brien’s Constitution River, and I just wonder how far this colt can go. But for that win in the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, he’s gonna go off an odds-on price, so I’ve been thinkin how to get some value out of this Group One for y’all? Well, Hawk Mountain weren’t too far away in that French Classic, so is gonna be making a race of it again under the brilliant Wayne Lordan, but I reckon the one that’s flown in under the radar is Roger Varian’s Saddadd, who for me was closing in on Almaqam and Bay City Roller in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when last seen back in May. That form was franked when Bay City Roller won the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Derby Day, and I know that Saddadd likes it here cos he won the Gordon Richards in April. Owen Burrows’s Gethin ain’t out of it either, but some any way exotic with Constitution River, Saddadd and Hawk Mountain could work out a big winner. Just saying!!! Caroline?

Constitution River
Well Jaysella, I do understand that you want to look for some value in this race, but I’m telling yuzz all that Constitution River is going to win this. I do get it that the Prix du Jockey Club was run on softer ground, but given his draw Constitution River had to go round almost the whole field to score by three quarters of a length from Hawk Mountain, there’s surely more between this pair on a quicker surface. I too like Saddadd from the Tattersalls Gold Cup race, but maybe being closer to the pace will be better, so my one-two-three is Constitution River, Hawk Mountain and Saddadd, but I can’t get away from the favourite for the win!

Newmarket

Betway Lancashire Oaks (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 2.40
Caught U Sleeping
Now then, Noel Meade’s Caught U Sleeping didn’t quite have the pace to see off Joseph O’Brien’s Rebel Moon in the Jannah Rose at Naas the last day, but could go well here. This step up to a mile and a half will put more emphasis on stamina than speed, so I’m of the opinion that Caught U Sleeping is so advantageously weighted as a three year old, this Group 2 is well within her grasp. David Egan takes the reins, and ahead of hot favourite Tiffany she does look cracking value for your each way chance. Ralph Beckett’s Tattycoram looks a fair option, but John & Thady Gosdens’ Crepe Suzette needs to get back on track this season, so Caught U Sleeping is my big gamble of the day.

Betway Old Newton Cup Handicap 3.15
Klassleader (nap)
Oh yes, I do think that William Haggas’s Klassleader will be winning this. He made a super run from the rear of the field in the Jorvik Handicap at York the last day, with Plage De Havre back in third, and Paddy The Squire not much further back in sixth. Anyways, Klassleader is knocked up 8lbs for that cosy win, so a bit more needed, with Plage De Havre dropped 1lb and Paddy The Squire back to his York mark after a decent third in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, but I do think that Klassleader is the least exposed of these three, so that’s got to be my pick.