Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 1st August 2026
Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Goodwood & The Mandarin’s Newmarket Picks
Goodwood
Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap 1.50
Valedictory
I do find meself coming back back to Valedictory for this Listed race, despite some pretty good opposition. The Irish raiders Aeronautic and Small Fry from Joseph O’Brien’s in-form Owning Hill yard make obvious appeal, specially with Dylan Browne McMonagle riding high after securing the Oaks double on Johanna Walsh, and winning the opener on Friday. Ralph Beckett’s Sing Us A Song must be on your list. But, it’s the Goodwood form of Valedictory that swings it for me, winning a decent Handicap here in May before doubling up at Newmarket last time out. John & Thady Gosden have got the Clarehaven yard in great nick, so I reckon Valedictory can say goodbye to this field and win the first for me!
Coral Glorious Stakes (Group 3) 2.25
Al Aasy (nap)
Well, no supercool Jim Crowley aboard Al Aasy to make it the hat-trick in this race, but Tom Marquand will do nicely, thank you very much!! Gotta be a bit of horses for courses here as William Haggas’s Sea The Stars gelding struts his stuff on the South Coast once again, but I’m saying the hat-trick is on the cards after showing us all there’s still plenty of zest about him when taking the Charlie Wood at Beverley last time out. I spose that stablemate Opportunity would be the danger, as this Frankel gelding looks pretty progressive to me, with Group One winner Ghostwriter probably not the force of old, so Gavin Cromwell’s Irish raider In My Teens looks the most interesting of the rest. Fingers crossed that Al Aasy is in the right mood, as he can be a bit….er….enigmatic I think they say, but if he’s on spot, he’s winning this!
Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 3.00
Santorini Star (nb)
The top two in the betting, Waardah and Danielle were the one-two last year, so no surprise to see ’em heading the market. But, I’m always a girl for a gamble, so I’m pitching for William Haggas’s Santorini Star for this Lillie Langtry, with her previous here giving her a perfect record of one from one!! For all that, the cheekpieces didn’t really do the job at Ascot’s Royal do last time in the Hardwicke, but I’ll put a line through that and say she can give the four year old filly Waardah 3lbs and still come out on top. John & Thady Gosdens’ Danielle weren’t beating much when winning the Group 3 Fillies’ & Mares’ Bronte Cup at York, so it’s hard to argue for a reversal with Waardah, who followed home subsequent Group One Pretty Polly Stakes winner Estrange last time at The Curragh, so maybe Joseph O’Brien’s Goodie Two Shoes can improve on her third in this last year. Yup, minds made up, I’ve waiting for this Golden Horn mare Santorini Star to win a big prize this term, and this is it! Reverse Forecast with Waardah looks a tempter though!
Coral Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) 3.35
Far Above Dream
Horses for courses is not a bad way to go here at Goodwood, specially on this quick 6 furlong dash down the hill, so Far Above Dream has gotta go close. Ain’t no bad record either here at Goodwood, three from three, and the ground don’t seem to matter all that much, so with James Owen knocking out the winners and Kieran Shoemark back in the hot seat, plenty to like. But, it’s a huge field this Stewards’ Cup, and plenty too many to mention, but John & Sean Quinns’ Dark Thirty and Richard Spencer’s Two Tribes should both be in the mix, while for you each-way junkies, Ed Walker’s Northern Champion might make a show. All in all, Far Above Dream to keep the Goodwood dream alive, and make it four from four here on the Sussex Downs.
Newmarket
British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes (Listed) (Fillies’ & Mares’) 1.33
Sunshine Star
I’m going to take a real gamble on the Chalice Stakes for Newmarket’s opener, and say that John & Thady Gosdens’ Sunshine Star can outrun her huge odds. Totally unexposed in my book after just the two turf starts, this Sea The Stars filly went close last time out at Windsor, but definitely gave the impression that this step up in trip would be just the ticket. It’s been Charlie Appleby’s Romantic Symphony that has topped the markets this week, but she didn’t seem to like the quicker ground at Lingfield back in May, so Aphrodite third Orionis could prove to be the big danger for William Haggas. Ralph Beckett’s Gone By is in a purple patch after wins at Ripon and Salisbury, so completes my list, but I’ll take my chance with Sunshine Star.
British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap 2.13
Havana Sprite
James Tate’s Havana Sprite is going to be all the rage for this Nursery after a dead-heat in the Listed Empress Stakes last time out. She was only collared in the dying strides, so with similar conditions and what looks a generous opening handicap mark, to say the least, Havana Sprite gets my vote. George Scott’s going well this summer, so the hat-trick seeking Glamorize has to enter calculations, while Karl Burke’s Love A Giggle and Marco Botti’s Fire Thunder complete my large list! Well, then, let’s narrow this down a bit, Havana Sprite will win and Glamorize will be keeping her up to her work.
