Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 12th September 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Doncaster & Caroline’s Leopardstown Picks

Leopardstown

Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed) (Fillies) 1.35
Ibelieveicanfly
To be sure this has to be going to one of the top three in the market, and that’ll be Timeless Tale, Ibelieveicanfly or Maire Rua. And I do think that Ryan Moore can get off to a winning start on Ibelieveicanfly, who was fourth in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh the last day, but is now in a Listed contest, down from that Group 2. I did like the way that Will McCreery’s Timeless Tale won on her debut, getting 8 lengths clear of the field in a Maiden at Naas. Ger Lyons Maire Rua was third at this level on the Mallow the last day, so can be involved, but Ibelieveicanfly gets my vote.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap (Premier Handicap) 2.10
Gleneagle Bay
Oh, I think I’ll take a chance on Stephen Thorne’s Gleneagle Bay for the first of the Handicaps here at Leopardstown. He was second in this race in 2024, just going down by a head to Dance Night Andday, then again in the mix when fourth last year, so goes well on this track, and my feeling for a while is that he should be adding to just the one win, with five seconds backing that up. Johnny Murtagh’s Rahmi won this last year, and is back for more off a reduced mark, so must be noted, and Robson Aguiar’s Benevento is at the top of the market on Friday with Ger Lyons’ Krasimir, and this pair have been running consistently well this summer. Gleneagle Bay with Colin Keane is my big gamble of the day, with Benevento the one to keep him honest!

HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) 2.45
Quest For Stars
Along with Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot colt Darkness Falls, Quest For Stars is bred to see out this 9 furlong trip before moving up next season. Charlie Appleby’s Sea The Stars colt is three from three, and won the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury the last day, finding more in the final strides to deny Andrew Balding’s Scommessa Sicura, form boosted in the May Hill at Doncaster on Thursday. I had gone for the exciting Rocket Boy in that race, who did finish well down the outer, so do in time keep your eye on Marco Botti’s Soldier’s Call colt. Darkness Falls won a maiden at the Curragh with plenty in hand the last day, but I’ll chance it with Quest For Stars under James Doyle.

World Pool Bet With The Tote Kilternan Stakes (Group 3) 3.15
Purview
No doubt about my pick here, that’s Purview who I think is one of the best in Dermot Weld’s yard. This Kingman colt has won both starts at the Curragh this season, and beating Trustyourinstinct in the International Stakes at the Curragh the last day is now fully franked form, with Joseph O’Brien’s Churchill gelding taking the Group 2 Curragh Cup next time out. But, I’m of the opinion that this short price for Purview underestimates Joseph O’Brien’s Sons And Lovers, who could well have featured in the Irish St Leger on Sunday’s card at the Curragh, so to me this is an intriguing race. Sons And Lovers gets Oisin Murphy aboard, which is a huge plus and Colin Keane will be mindful of that, but it’s Purview I think can prevail.

Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) 3.55
Blue Bolt
Oh yes, I’m sure Aidan O’Brien won’t be wanting this valuable prize to be going back over the water, but really Blue Bolt is so hard to oppose. Surely ranking as the top filly over a mile anywhere in Europe, Andrew Balding’s Blue Point filly beat Precise in the Group One Prix Rothschild the last day, and now gives away 2lbs less, so hard for me to see where the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner can make up that half length at these weights, with the reopposing Moon Target having even more to find. What I do find fascinating, and I did call Marie-Francoise over this, is the appearance of Pierre-Charles Boudot on Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner, True Love. He’s right at the top of his game this season is Pierre-Charles, so after a fine fifth in the 6 furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest the last day, should be sharpened up for this return to a mile. Five times Group One winner Fallen Angel would be my each-way pick, but Blue Bolt is the one they all have to beat.

Tonybet Solonaway Stakes (Group 2) 4.25
Isaac Newton
It’s very interesting to see Simon & Ed Crisfords’ Quddwah lining up here for this Group 2 Solonaway Stakes, but I do think this is Isaac Newton’s race. For all that, it is Quddwah that has all the form at this level, but it must be taken on trust that he’s race fit after being rested from a winter campaign in Arabia, though at least Ryan Moore knows what he is racing against having won the Singspiel Stakes on Quddwah back in February. Of course, it’s no two horse race with Robson Aguiar’s Power Blue and previous Lockinge winner Audience looking back to his best despite being seven now, and Ger Lyons Frankel filly Faiyum also on my long list. But, I’m sure that Isaac Newton is fulfilling all his promise now, and winning the Desmond Stakes here over course and distance the last day makes him easy to back.

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) 5.00
Constitution River (nb)
Well now, this Irish Champion Stakes is an excellent rematch of the Juddmonte International where Item, Almaqam and Constitution River were the one-two-three the last day. It was a bit of an inside out race to me, where the expected pacemaker Action dropped in at the rear, and left Constitution River’s stablemate Hawk Mountain to set some really hard early fractions. Whether it was in Constitution River’s interest to latch onto the back of Hawk Mountain so early on was a matter for discussion, but to me it might later have left him short of a finish from the 2 furlong pole. Not at York now is Item, and over in Ireland for the first time in his career, I wonder if that hands the baton to Constitution River on home turf, while Almaqam makes for a fascinating contender, and is known to travel well with form from the Curragh and in France. Oh yes, plenty to think about, but with more patience in the Juddmonte, Constitution River could have had an unblemished season, so I’ll take him to win this ahead of Almaqam.

Doncaster

Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) 1.45
Desert Castle
Well, with super young Billy Loughnane aboard, and him winning on Charlie Appleby’s string for fun this summer, it’s gotta be Desert Castle for this Group 2. Yeah, Champagne all round I reckon, as Billy eyes the Jockeys’ Championship with just over a month to go, so with Oisin Murphy breathing down his neck, if ya know what I mean, I’m expecting a big day for smiler!! Now then, this Frankel colt had something of his sire about him on his debut at Newmarket, and may well have won by more than 3 & 1/2 lengths if he had been able to plot a straight line to the post under a hands and heels ride from Billy, so surely must come on for that. Aidan O’Brien’s Sergei Diaghilev looks the big danger, having impressed me in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Gowran Park last month, and could even have more to offer on this flatter Town Moor track. Yep, Sergei Giaghilev’s experience over Desert Castle’s raw ability, so a decent clash, but young Billy gets my endorsement on his big day!

Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) 2.55
More Thunder
The Park Stakes can go to William Haggas’s More Thunder, given that there’ll be plenty of pace for him to aim at. Only one way to run his races More Thunder, with all his best work coming late, but it works and can work again if the race pans out to his advantage. So, I’m expecting Tom Marquand to drop him in at the rear, while the pace is gonna be set by Flora Of Bermuda, the 7 furlong specialist in my book, or even more likely Ralph Beckett’s Qirat, who of course has got Group One form in the book from the Sussex Stakes last year. Charlie Appleby’s Wise Approach looks a super each-way angle, if that’s your thing, but for me this Group 2 is set up just right for a late charge by More Thunder, after Qirat sets the early fractions and Flora Of Bermuda makes her move from the 3 furlong marker. More Thunder to do it late, with Never So Brave and Flora Of Bermuda making it a proper race!!

Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) 3.35
Pierre Bonnard (nap)
I reckon that is just the sort of test that Pierre Bonnard will need to be seen at his best, so that’s where I’ve stuck my pin. And, you gotta remember that Aidan O’Brien is going for the four-timer in this centuries old Classic, so with Action likely to be sent out as pacemaker, this is gonna be a test of stamina round Town Moor. The ante post markets have had Joseph O’Brien’s Enceladus as favourite, and you’ve gotta face it, you can’t knock the Owning Hill yard handler’s success this season, specially for me with the middle distance runners, so despite his lucky charm and one of the best in the saddle, Dylan Browne McMonagle being out of action, easy to understand the favouritism. Joseph O’Brien’s second string, Highwayman, could well surprise here under the brilliant Saffie Osborne, so that’s my each-way pick, if that’s your bag, while any more rain and Derby winner Christmas Day gets a look in too. Pierre Bonnard to have the race set up for him with another Aidan O’Brien pacemaker, while Enceladus finds it hard to see it out, with Christmas Day and Highwayman thereabouts too in an Irish O’Brien scoop!!