RACECARDS
The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 13th July 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Newmarket, York & Ascot
Newmarket
Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes 1.40
Bintabuha
In an interesting opener, it could pay to side with William Knight’s Bintabuha. She showed enough on her debut under rules to get our vote, full of running in the later stages, and she should come on for that course and distance effort. She’s by Ghaiyyath, so will surely be going over further in time, but this looks a good opportunity to lose the maiden tag. Charlie Appleby has a superb recent record in this, so Desert Flower is likely to be high in the betting, but Bintabuha edges it, with Jim Crowley up top adding to the appeal
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap 2.12
Lou Lou’s Gift
William Haggas holds the key to this Fillies’ handicap with Lou Lou’s Gift. She won with plenty in hand over course and distance two weeks back, and the 7lb hit for that easy success shouldn’t be enough to stop her. William Buick is a notable booking in the hot seat, so Lou Lou’s Gift can serve it up to another course winner, Miss Bodacious, as she bids for the hat-trick for the in-form Karl Burke
bet365 Mile Handicap 2.50
Volterra
Course winner Volterra looks set for a big run in this Class 2 Handicap. Last seen leading home the far side group in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, this looks a solid chance to regain the winning thread for Kevin Ryan. That said, Volterra has to find over 3 lengths on the re-opposing Quirat, so has his work cut out, while Liveandletlive is also sure to be on the premises. These are our three, with Volterra getting the final tick
bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) 3.25
Columnist
The growing Wathnan Racing yard, who had such a good Royal Ascot week, can figure again here with Columnist. Richard Fahey’s Ardad colt won on his debut at Chester in cosy style, but was even more impressive when a fast finishing third in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. There’s surely more to come, and with James Doyle riding the crest of a wave in his new post as Wathnan Racing’s retained jockey, every chance of adding to the tally. Go close, with Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Truth the danger
bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) 4.00
Mostabshir
John & Thady Gosden can take the Bunbury Cup with Mostabshir, who is a very useful handicapper on his day. This Dark Angel gelding was a 5 lengths fourth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, benefitting from a run in the near-side group, but lines up here on an unchanged mark so can make his presence felt again. Michael Bell’s Carrytheone gets plenty of support after finishing just over a length ahead of Mostabshir in that Ascot race, but Mostabshir looks the tempting each-way angle
My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes (Group 1) 4.35
Kinross (nb)
A cracking renewal in store for the feature, with Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup scorer Inisherin topping the ante-post markets. However, Inisherin is up against older and more battle-hardened types here, so we’ll plump for Ralph Beckett’s Kinross, who was third in this last year to the brilliant Shaquille, and can score this time. There’s a whole host of dangers to fill the shortlist, not least last season’s outstanding juvenile, Vandeek, and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream, while Charlie Hills’s Khaadem makes a fascinating each-way punt at a bigger price for the each-way value seekers, with young Billy Loughnane out to burnish his growing reputation. Irish raider River Tiber also enters calculations, but Kinross might just be the one, so gets the nudge

York
John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (Listed) 2.35
Clarendon House (nap)
It’s easy to excuse Clarendon House’s no show in the Dash Handicap at Epsom, where Tom Marquand couldn’t find the starter switch, but he’s the one to follow here. A winner over course and distance for Robert Cowell back in May, he just scores a couple more points in the final analysis than Ralph Beckett’s Starlust, who didn’t set the house alight in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. However, that was a pretty hot Group 1, so these are calmer waters and Starlust rates the main threat. A good duel in store, with Clarendon House to go in, and Starlust pushing him all the way
John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 3.10
Botanical
It’s hard to ignore the appeal of Roger Varian’s Botanical, returning to the Knavesmire after a course and distance win on his seasonal reappearance in May. He might have been made too much use of in the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot’s Royal meeting, knocked about a bit as the field swarmed past rounding the home turn, on going probably a bit quick, so ground and course conditions should be in his favour now. Karl Burke’s Liberty Lane and David O’Meara’s Epic Poet make the shortlist, but Botanical is the one to beat
John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3) 3.45
Al Qareem
There’s plenty of depth in this field for the grade, but it’s Karl Burke’s Al Qareem that stands out. Last seen trying to make all the running in France in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, this looks an easier task, so with course winning form Al Qareem gets our vote. Recent course and distance winner, Klondike is the obvious danger, while Ralph Beckett’s Salt Bay also has claims after chasing Klondike home last time out. Andrew Balding’s Alkasib and James Ferguson’s Deauville Legend complete the shortlist, but Al Qareem edges it

Ascot
Anne Cowley Memorial Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2) 2.20
Sonny Liston
Ralph Beckett’s Sonny Liston has twice been runner-up in the Royal Hunt Cup here, but can go one better for this Group 2 from this mark. Last month’s effort at the Royal meeting was a fine run, just failing to reel in Wild Tiger with a strong late run, but now Rob Hornby takes up the reins and will aim to go one better. The progressive Kingman colt Quddwah is unbeaten in three, so rates the main danger, but Sonny Liston’s racing experience on this track should count for plenty
The Mandarin
