Jaysella’s Saturday Selections for 20th September 2025

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Newbury Park & Ayr

Newbury Park

Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (Group 3) 1.30
Rage Of Bamby
Okay, kids, I’m gonna take a gamble on Rage Of Bamby for Newbury’s opener. My thinking is that with Eve Johnson-Houghton tasting Group One success in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes with Zavareti last Sunday, she and Charles Bishop will be riding on the crest of a wave. Now, I know she’s so highly regarded for getting the best out of her youngsters, but Rage Of Bamby was last seen a decent fourth in the Group One Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, trying to make all from the front, so this drop in trip and grade could be just the thing for her pacy mare. Obviously at this level, Rumstar and Montassib have to be shortlisted, while Mick Apppleby’s Shagraan is also one of the more likely types. Rage Of Bamby to get my day off to a good start, please!

Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap 2.05
Dramatic Star (nb)
I think I’ll stick with William Haggas’s Dramatic Star for the Autumn Cup Handicap. In some ways, it was a toss up between James Tate’s Majestic Warrior and Dramatic Star, with James Tate’s sparkling recent form giving Majestic Warrior a good argument, but giving 6lbs to Dramatic Star on this ground – I think not! Dramatic Star put in a top performance at Haydock Park last time out in the Old Borough Cup Handicap, and this if anything is a tad easier. He was also ahead of a couple of these in that Haydock race, and now has Tom Marquand up top, so it’s Dramatic Star for me!

Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) 3.15
Words Of Truth
Well, I think that the Mill Reef is going to Charlie Appleby’s Words Of Truth, though I’ve a nagging feeling that Kevin Ryan’s Rock On Thunder could be a big danger. But, you know, a girl’s gotta make er mind up, so I’m sticking with the original selection, Words Of Truth, as I came out and said on the Podcast earlier this week. Don’t want young Barney chastising me for changing my mind now, do I? Well, it’s a girls prerogative to change her mind of course, but I don’t what that coming up next time I’m in his chair, do I? So, for me it’s between Rock On Thunder and Words Of Truth, and I’m even thinking of a Reverse Forecast on that! We’ll see, but Words Of Truth is my pick for the win.

Ayr

Ladbrokes “Big Football Bet Builder Boosts” Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed) 1.50
Almeric (nap)
This is an easy one to write up – Almeric’s winning this for me! Considering he’s using this as a warm-up for the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month, and Oisin Murphy’s up top, with good to soft ground just the ticket, I’ve got plenty of my boxes ticked. I will admit that Wathnan Racing’s King’s Gambit has been put in to some top races this summer, but for me he’s underperformed, so it may be that Karl Burke’s Liberty Lane proves the biggest danger. Ho Hum, easiest bet of the day for me, Almeric, better get it right though or I’ll be hearing from you all!

Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup Handicap 2.25
Candy
Right then, let’s go for the gamble on Richard Spencer’s colt Candy, in a race where an each way punt is likely to be the safest option. Having not shown too much earlier in this season, I reckon a little bit more cut in the ground is just the ticket for a return to winning ways, and won’t you all be loving me if this one comes in!! That said, this Silver Cup Handicap, the consolation race for the feature is so, so competitive, the winner could come from anywhere, but Candy is the one that’s getting my vote. William Haggas’s Binhareer, Hugo Palmer’s Nariko and Candy all come from the higher Stalls, which could be a negative, but I reckon there’ll be plenty of pace from the off on that side. So, with that in mind, Candy must, must have a chance of getting in the mix with all that pace around, so he’s my each way chancer!

Ladbrokes “Get Rewarded With Ladbucks” Firth Of Clyde (Group 3) (Fillies) 3.00
Coming Attraction
It’s Roger Varian’s progressive Coming Attraction that can get the better of the in-form Ed Walker’s Lightning Polka for me in this Fillies’ Group 3. I just liked the way she quickened clear at Chester last time out, and that’s franked form with the second, Blingy’s Sister, going third to the smart prospect Alparslan last week at The Curragh, one of the handful of winners Caroline gave us for Irish Champions Weekend. I reckon there’s enough in that form to get Coming Attraction my vote, and I do get it that she’s gone to the head of the ante post markets this week, though at anything bigger than 5/2 has to get you ahead of the bookies. Argentine Tango is a classy sort that won’t be far away, and Oisin Murphy on Dandana from the better side of the draw appeals, but Coming Attraction can make it a hat-trick.

Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 3.35
Two Tribes
A high draw, top weight, there’s plenty of arguments against for the feature, but nevertheless, It’s Two Tribes that does it for me. You just can’t knock Richard Spencer’s Rajasinghe gelding this summer, placed in his last four handicaps, and with a bit of give in the ground now, has an even better chance of getting into the frame. I did have a look at what was on offer for what is, as ever, a pretty hot race, and I reckon anything over 7/1 you’ve got yourself a deal. With big race Jockey David Egan up top, I’m happy to even go on a win bet, despite the top weight and wide draw, with Kevin Ryan’s Hammer The Hammer likely to push the pace and pull Two Tribes into it. Well, here we go, fingers crossed!