The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 31st August 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from The Curragh, Sandown Park & Chester

The Curragh

Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) 2.20
Alla Stella
Sir Mark Prescott makes the trip over with Alla Stella, who can take on Aidan O’Brien’s Dreamy. Racing experience should count for this Study Of Man grey, who led for a long way in a Listed race at Sandown Park last month, so this step up to a mile should help. That said, Dreamy is by US Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, so is bred in the purple and has plenty of potential. Ballydoyle second string Garden Of Eden looks a big price, fresh from winning a Maiden at Naas with a bit to spare last week, so is the each-way angle, but Alla Stella to score

Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes (Group 3) 2.50
Ides Of March (nb)
This Group 3 can go to Ides Of March who won a Maiden in ready fashion here three weeks ago. This Wootton Bassett colt dominated that big field from the front, and drawn here in Stall 2 much the same race plan is on, with Joseph O’Brien and Donnacha O’Brien making it a real family affair with Rudi’s Apple and Usdi Atohi both lining up. Rudi’s Apple will give the selection the most to think about next door in Stall 3, but Ides Of March is the one to follow

Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes (Group 3) 3.25
Uluru
If Joseph O’Brien’s Uluru can repeat her run in the Prix de Psyche last month, she can take this Group 3 at a canter. Nearest at the finish in that Deauville contest, she just ran out of track to collar the front-running Almara, but gets the inside stall here and is sure to give another good account. Third to Soprano in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot was a fine run, so Uluru should take all the beating here, with the classy Tarawa keeping her honest

Paddy Power Supporting Cancer Trials Irish Cambridgeshire (Premier Handicap) 4.35
State Actor
It could pay to side with Bill Farrell’s State Actor for the feature, who has already clocked up two wins here at The Curragh this year. Lightly raced with just the three starts on turf, this mark might underrate him, though drawn out wide in Stall 23 isn’t ideal. Thomas Gibney’s course and distance winner Booyea is a solid each way bet, but State Actor gets the win vote

Sandown Park

Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 2.25
Tamfana (nap)
It’s very hard to ignore the appeal of David Menuisier’s Tamfana for this Group 3 prize. She’s been mixing it at the highest level this term, finishing well to take fourth in the 1,000 Guineas before a fine third in a blanket finish in the Prix de Diane, and fourth again in the Grand Prix de Paris last month. Down a couple of grades here, she must be fancied with Ralph Beckett’s Royal Ascot winner, Doha the obvious danger. However, Tamfana gets a 6lb age allowance over Doha, and that should be enough to swing things her way. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Rolica completes the shortlist, but Tamfana is the one to beat

Sky Bet Solario Stakes (Group 3) 3.35
Matauri Bay
There’s been plenty of ante-post support for John & Thady Gosdens’ Field Of Gold for this Group 3 contest, but he can be opposed with Matauri Bay. Ralph Beckett’s Loe De Vega colt fetched a pretty penny as a yearling, but repaid some of that faith with a cosy win at Leicester three weeks ago, strong in the final stages to hint that he should act on Sandown park’s stiff finish. Not that Field Of Gold didn’t impress equally at Newmarket on just his second start, pulling 3 lengths clear and winning with a bit in hand, while Andrew Balding’s Royal Playwright also made a winning start under rules. These are the three that take the eye, but Matauri Bay gets the nudge

Chester

Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed) 3.15
Caius Chorister
This looks an ideal opportunity for David Menuisier’s Caius Chorister to regain the winning thread now dropped in grade. She’s been running in some pretty competitive races this season, and with a different jockey on each of her last four runs, hasn’t always settled into her races. Now James Doyle is the fifth jockey to get the leg-up, so maybe he can get this Golden Horn mare into a good rhythm from the off. The obvious danger is Willie Mullins’s Absurde, last year’s Ebor winner and also successful at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The master of Closutton has targeted these valuable handicaps in recent years, so Absurde is one to watch, while Gordon Elliott’s Samui also gets a nod. Caius Chorister to score from a useful inside draw

The Mandarin