The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 3rd May 2025

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Newmarket, Goodwood & Punchestown

Newmarket

Oddschecker British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes (Listed) 1.10
Unequal Love
William Haggas’s Dutch Art mare won this race on her first run last season, and is taken to repeat the trick under Tom Marquand. Of course, that win was just the start of a very good campaign that included a valuable win in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, and a fine third behind stablemate Montassib in the Group One Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. Conditions should be just perfect here, so Unequal Love can get 2,000 Guineas day off to a great start, with William Knight’s Frost At Dawn in close attendance.

Betfred Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1.45
More Thunder
The Somerville Lodge handler can score again in the Betfred Handicap with More Thunder. Officially 3lbs well-in under a penalty, William Haggas’s Night Of Thunder colt looked an improved model on his seasonal reappearance when scoring over course and distance last month. Bred to go further, his sire Night Of Thunder famously collared Kingman late on to take the 2014 2,000 Guineas at 40/1, but on this ground should have enough pace to be right there at the business end. Woodhay Wonder was third in the race that More Thunder won here last time out, with Richard Hannon’s Aramram splitting them in second, so expect this pair to go close again.

Betfred Suffolk Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 2.20
Hand Of God
Recent Meydan scorer Arabian Light makes plenty of appeal given the ground conditions here, but Harry Charlton’s Hand Of God gets the nod. Not seen since taking the Golden Gates Handicap at Ascot’s Royal meeting, that win backed up victory in the Esher Cup at Sandown in a short two race season. However, Hand Of God has proven that he can go well fresh, and he has winning form here at Newmarket on quick ground at the end of his 2023 season, so every chance he’ll be in the thick of things. Hand Of God to score under Ryan Moore, with Arabian Light making him work for it.

Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Palace House Stakes (Group 3) 2.55
Washington Heights (nb)
Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights won the Abernant Stakes here last year, and has such a solid Newmarket profile, she gets the red circle for this Group 3. It looks like a pretty hot race for the grade, with the likes of Clarendon House and Beautiful Diamond lining up, while if Richard Spencer’s Twilight Calls can get off to a better start than last year he also rates a danger. A tricky one, but Washington Heights won’t be far away.

Betfred 2,000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) 3.35
Field Of Gold
The one that’s missing from John Gosden’s trophy cabinet is the 2,000 Guineas, in a sparkling career that has seen him crowned Champion Trainer six times. Now, in partnership with son Thady, he has his best chance ever of filling that void with Field Of Gold, who lines up here fresh from an impressive win in the Group 3 Craven Stakes last month, pulling well clear of the second, the re-opposing Wimbledon Hawkeye from James Owen’s in-form yard. That said, William Buick has chosen to sit on Ruling Court over Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light, and this Justify colt did cost over 2 million Euros, so has to be respected for a yard that has won this twice in the last three years. Aidan O’Brien has landed a remarkable ten wins in the first Classic of the season, but with the withdrawal of Twain, is only represented by Expanded, while Joseph O’Brien’s Scorthy Champ was smart at two and completes the shortlist. Field Of Gold to make John Gosden’s day with a career defining win in the 2,000 Guineas.

Goodwood

racingclub.com Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 2.00
Crimson Advocate (nap)
It could pay to side with John & Thady Gosden’s Crimson Advocate for this Listed race, with big race jockey Rob Havlin in the hot seat. Bought out of George Weaver’s US yard by the ever growing Wathnan Racing outfit, Crimson Advocate was a nose winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot as a two year old, and gave every impression that she’d trained on when second to Soprano in the Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes at Kempton Park in March. She’s proven she can get this trip, after having been kept to the sharpest of trips in the States, and should have enough speed to fend off Karl Burke’s Bright Thunder.

Punchestown

SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 3.42
Jade De Grugy
Obviously there has been a massive amount of support for Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead, who looked something out of the ordinary earlier this season. However, there’s hasn’t been too much going right at the Cullentra yard of late, though Teahupoo did score again in the Stayers Hurdle on Thursday to lift the gloom a little. In contrast, Willie Mullins has his Closutton yard riding the crest of a wave after securing the British Trainers’ Championship for the second year running, so Paul Townend’s mount, Jade De Grugy gets preference here. Although no match for the brilliant Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, she’s smart enough on her day and is taken to serve it up to the jolly.

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) 4.50
Hello Neighbour
A chance is taken on Gavin Cromwell’s Hello Neighbour, who looked something special on the flat and over hurdles, winning all four starts before lining up in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. To be fair, his sixth place in that Grade One was a close finish, so being within 4 lengths of winner Poniros and second Lulamba doesn’t get him a negative point, despite lining up against those two rivals once more. Poniros was a huge outsider at 100/1 for that Cheltenham win, so Paul Townend taking up the reins looks notable, but the instinct bet is Hello Neighbour, so that’s where the pin is stuck.

Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 5.25
Hey Sunshine
Willie Mullins can be capping off a fine season with Hey Sunshine taking the last of the Black Type races at the Punchestown Festival. The depth of the ground at Fairyhouse last time out didn’t aid her cause, so with conditions much more in her favour here, Hey Sunshine looks the one to follow for her in-form trainer. Back into a handicap here, and vey much the one to beat, with Wellington Arch the likely main threat.

The Mandarin