The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 13th June 2026

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from York & Sandown Park

York

Sky Bet Supporting Macmillan Handicap 2.25
Extremely Zain
I would think that Extremely Zain is a safe bet for this Handicap, if reproducing his winning form from Newbury last time out. He won with plenty in hand under Cieren Fallon in that Novice Stakes, and going handicapping after just two starts does look to be on a lenient mark, with an entry in the Bunbury Cup in the diary if he continues to progress here. I suppose that Dominic Ffrench Davis’s Mirabeau would rate the main danger, but this course and distance winner has to give Extremely Zain lumps of weight, so it could be Karl Burke’s Recency Bias that gives the selection the most to think about. Roger Varian’s Bobby Bennu looks on a good mark for those of you that want an each way angle, but it’s Extremely Zain for the win, for me.

Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (Listed) 3.00
Al Qareem (nap)
Last year’s winner Al Qareem can go in again on the Knavesmire, where he is three from five, and take this Listed contest before in preparation for the Irish St Leger later this summer. I thought he just got a bit lit up in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last month, and it was the reopposing Mount Atlas that was 3 places and over 14 lengths ahead of Karl Burke’s experienced stayer, but that doesn’t worry me as Al Qareem has plenty of top level form in the book. I’ll take him to reverse placings with Mount Atlas, now under William Buick instead of Oisin Murphy. David O’Meara’s Epic Poet is always a threat at this level over this trip, but Al Qareem is the one to beat.

Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap 3.35
Postmodern
I’m going to take a chance on Postmodern for this Sprint Handicap, and if he can replicate the Meydan form earlier this year, he could be hard to peg back. He’s been gelded since, and presumably withdrawn from the Surrey Stakes at Epsom on account of the ground two weeks back, should be fully tuned up for this. This Too Darn Hot gelding may be better than a Handicapper, but this is the way to find out, so Postmodern it is for me with conditions now fine.

Ice Co Supporting Macmillan Handicap 4.50
Point Of Contact
Andrew Balding’s Point Of Contact is dropped in grade here, so could be the way to go under the notable booking of Ryan Moore. Point Of Contact ran well enough in the Class 2 Hambleton Handicap here last time out, making good progress from 3 furlongs out, but ultimately just found short of pace when push came to shove, so this step up in trip should give him a better chance. It does look a fairly open contest, with Grant Tuer’s Empire Of Light on a four-timer making obvious appeal, while Jim Goldie’s Pearl Eye has Lauren Young’s 5lb claim a useful offset as he showed a return to form at Hamilton last time out, and Tim Easterby’s Leadenhall also makes my shortlist. Ryan Moore can make the most of this drop in grade and extra trip on Point Of Contact, so he gets the nudge.

Sandown Park

BetMGM Fillies’ Handicap 2.05
Karvala
Kevin Ryan’s Karvala was pretty impressive at Thirsk last month, so there’s every chance she could double up here. This Pinatubo filly had plenty left for the closing furlong under Shane Gray, who went through the line without having to ask her to get everything out of the locker, and considering that Karl Burke’s Town Queen set off at a fair lick, there could well be more to come. Ed Walker’s Forbidden Colours is a work in progress, and could be useful, but Karvala has Kevin Stott getting the leg-up and should be bang in the mix.

BetMGM Scurry Stakes (Listed) 2.42
Military Code (nb)
This does look a Listed race down to the pair of Charlie Appleby runners, Military Code and Words Of Truth. On the plus side for Words Of Truth, this Lope De Vega gelding does look a decent sprint prospect, and has Oisin Murphy booked, but does have a penalty for a Group 2 win in the Mill Reef at Newbury last year. This is Military Code’s first appearance this term, but on the plus side, he was a head second over course and distance last year, so if he’s trained on, it might be Billy Loughnane that is on the best of the Moulton Paddocks runners. Kevin Ryan’s Lady Youmzain would be be my each way angle, if that’s your bag, but Military Code under super Billy Loughnane is my hot tip for the Scurry!

Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog at betmgm.co.uk Handicap 3.17
High Degree
I’m going to go for William Haggas’s High Degree for this one mile Handicap, though we may well be seeing this Too Darn Hot gelding over further in future. However, he’s still unexposed over this mile trip, and all the pace is likely to come from the lower side of the draw, with Ralph Beckett’s Eagle Bay in Stall 2, Roger Varian’s Raammee on the inside and the selection in Stall 4. Jack Channon’s Hot Cash is right between them all, so could be drawn into the race as a solid each way chance, but I’ll take High Degree to go forward and win.

The Mandarin