Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 10th October 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Newmarket, Caroline’s Naas Pick & Marie-Francoise’s Chantilly Selection

Newmarket

Modern Games Darley Stakes (Group 3) 1.15
Haatem
Well what a corker to get Saturday’s card at Headquarters going. It’s Andrew Balding versus here, as he fields three of the five, which I spose could be making it a tactical contest, but I reckon it’s Haatem that they all gotta beat. Ryan Moore is back on board, since Haatem came back from a win in the Mint Millions Invitational at Kentucky Downs under Jamie Spencer, so he’s getting the leg-up on a horse in form and that’s where my dolllar’s down! No Charlie Appleby runner here, as he gets plenty of course experience into his two year olds, so it’s really a question to me whether Humidity can overcome a 13 month lay off since coming second to Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge here last year, and if he can’t, Karl Burke’s Boiling Point is away from Goodwood, but does run well here. Hum Hah, La Di Dah, Haatem to rout them under the brill Ryan Moore, with Boiling Point making it a truly run race and Humidity my Factor Y!!

Native Trail Zetland Stakes (Group 3) 1.50
Drumbeat (nap)
I’ve got the Zetland down to a straight fight between Drumbeat and Apulia Bay. Caroline always rates the Beresford as a very important race for the following year, so I’ve taken note from our top Irish Tipster!! But I’m looking back at Drumbeat’s run in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last time out, and I reckon that this step up to 10 furlongs is gonna be just what he needs. Drumbeat didn’t have the pace to stay with his impressive stablemate Noble Exhibit, but looked to have plenty in the tank going through the line, so perhaps? Now, for Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Apulia Bay it was very much the same story, he couldn’t find enough to take on Charlie Appleby’s Bin Jahwar over a mile at Newbury last time out, but again looked in need of further the way this Too Darn Hot colt finished his race. I guess Charlie Johnston’s Sword Salute is a bit more battle-hardened after six starts, and has Will Buick pulling the strings, but mind’s made up, Drumbeat to get into a good rhythm and serve it up to Apulia Bay.

Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3) 2.25
Rock Montreal (nb)
Well, Caroline might never forgive me for going against Sergei Diaghilev for this Autumn Stakes, but that’s just what I’m gonna do!! What does the boss say? – we beg to differ on this one I think it is, cos’ Carloline’s got Sergei on her big hit list, but I’m going with the form for my Mill Reef nap, Nabati, cos’ my selection here, Rock Montreal got the better of Nabati in the Flying Scotsman at Donny last time out, though neither of them got upsides of Andrew Balding’s Forbidden Fire in that decent Listed race. This is a hot contest too, with Hugo Palmer’s Mia Fantasia and Charlie Appleby’s second string Al Jabbar both with credentials, but I do think the two at the top of the market will dominate. Rock Montreal to hold off Sergei Diaghilev in a good battle, with Al Jabbar pushing them all the way under my favourite smiler, Billy Loughnane!!

Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) 3.00
Darkness Falls
Very, very interesting as Aidan O’Brien drops Golden Fleece winner Darkness Falls into the 7 furlong Dewhurst. To be fair, Darkness Falls had that Group One at Leopardstown won well before the furlong pole, and showed plenty of speed through the line too, but Charlie Appleby’s Desert Castle has been flavour of the month after fizzing up in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time, ahead of Sergei Diaghilev by some 3 lengths. Now then, it’s no two horse race this, as Ballydoyle have Great Barrier Reef in the mix too, and, just let me blow me own trumpet for a minute? I did tell y’all that great Barrier Reef would beat Confucius in the Coventry Stakes at Ascot’s Royal do, and that Ryan Moore had picked the wrong one for that Group 2. Just saying!! So, Great Barrier Reef has to be on your list, but whether Wayne Lordan can pace him right out of the dip to see out this 7 furlong trip is my big ask? while Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore obviously think Darkness Falls has the pace to drop from a mile one to seven furlongs, as they both serve it up to hot favourite Desert Castle. Hum Hah, La Di Dah, Darkness Falls to just about outstay Desert Castle and Great Barrier Reef out of the dip and into that crucial final furlong.

Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 3.40
Beylerbeyi
So, where do we start with a race that starts in Cambridgeshire and finishes in Suffolk? Well, with a map of course Haha!! But seriously I do think last year’s winner Beylerbeyi has a terrific chance, given some of the weather factors, which could bring stamina into play. Ian Williams’ Invincible Spirit gelding has got some rock solid form in the book too, coming second to Caballo De Mar over this trip in the Doncaster Cup last month, form that’s been properly franked with Caballo De Mar winning the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp last Saturday. 10lbs higher than when scoring in this last year, but Billy Loughnane’s back in the saddle for more big race glory, and with plenty more cut in the ground after the recent rain, Beylerbeyi’s extreme hold-up tactics could pay dividends again. Joseph O’Brien has had Dawn Rising in second and sixth in the last two renewals, so is on my list, and I would put Emmet Mullins’s Dream On Baby in as my each-way pick for you lot that like that sort of thing, and James Owen is a trainer going places so do have a second look at Naval Tribute too, if hedging your bets is your bag. Beylerbeyi to do it again, I reckon, with Smiler taking another big prize in his breakthrough season, and Dawn Rising to go close again. You’ve got my each-wayers too, so good luck!!

Naas

RFL Steels Stakes (Listed) 3.28
Saint Agatha
Oh yes, I ‘ll be taking a chance on Saint Agatha for this Listed contest, because I do think she will cope with this softer ground. Now, I’m telling yuzz that it’s not really my thing to be looking for an each way gamble on a three year old filly against the older boys, but when I was seeing the market on Friday, and on chatting away to Jaysella, Saint Agatha did seem a big misprice to me, so there we are. Of course, it would be Charles O’Brien’s Big Gossey and Fozzy Stack’s Two Stars that should dominate the betting for this Listed contest, but Big Gossey isn’t the same away from his beloved Curragh course, and Two Stars has not been seen for over a year. My big lottery punt of the weekend this is, so come on Ben Coen, bring Saint Agatha home in the first three and I’ll be happy!

Chantilly

Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (Group 2) 2.32
Scythe
Oui, it must be Scythe that can win this Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte for the trainer from Angleterre, Brian Meehan. Maybe Scythe was very very unlucky here at Chantilly the last time non? when Mickael Barzalona made the late charge to win the Prix Eclipse, after Scythe had been making all of the race with Belisa Bay. D’accord, but Scythe has the experience here at Chantilly, and it must be that Jolivette, the second in the Mill Reef Stakes in Angleterre last month had a very very hard race with Nabati, and now c’est possible that this soft ground is not for her. Maintenant, I believe that Scythe can be the one to win, with Christophe Soumillon on the top to win this Criterium de Maisons-Leffitte, and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Vignelli to be close.