The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 4th May 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Newmarket & Punchestown

Newmarket

William Hill British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 1.10
Star Guest
The in-form Moulton Paddocks yard can get things off to a good start for Charlie Appleby on 2,000 Guineas Day with Star Guest. When dropped in distance last summer to this 6 furlong trip, things really clicked and the Dubawi filly rattled off a couple of wins on the July course. Karl Burke has been firing in the winners too, so the pacy Dorothy Lawrence is expected to be in the mix along with Ralph Beckett’s Funny Story. Star Guest to get the Godolphin silks to the winner’s enclosure in the opener

William Hill Extra Place Races Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1.45
Summerghand
The veteran is going to clock up 100 career starts this year, but looked just as good as ever when fifth here last month. After a tricky start, David O’Meara’s old boy got into his stride and ran on inside the final furlong without reaching the winners. He’s drawn pretty much in the middle in stall 9, so if there’s plenty of pace on for this hot handicap then Summerghand can be drawn into the race. Go close

William Hill Suffolk Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 2.20
Majestic
Horses for courses here as Majestic returns to the scene of his win in the 2022 Cambridgeshire. Jack Channon’s gelding ran well for a long way here last month, only conceding the lead in the final furlong, and can be expected to come on for that run. The winner of that race, Hafeet Alain re-opposes under a 4lb penalty, while Dutch Decoy and Torito make plenty of appeal. Majestic should once again put in a good shift, and looks super each-way value

William Hill Palace House Stakes (Group 3) 2.55
Beautiful Diamond
With his string in fine fettle, Karl Burke has every chance of winning this Group 3 contest with Beautiful Diamond. The grey filly won on her debut under rules at Nottingham last June, and finished her Juvenile season with a Listed win at Ayr. Plenty of scope for improvement and gets plenty of weight all round, so Beautiful Diamond to score

Qipco 2,000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) 3.35
Rosallion (nap)
There’s been a huge amount of support for Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy, after being noted as his best two year old colt last year. With course form here too, City Of Troy looks strong on paper and will no doubt go off an odds-on favourite. However, Richard Hannon’s Rosallion is our pick for the first Classic of the year, with his win in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp one of the outstanding Juvenile races of last year. When Rosallion got into top gear, not even the best French two-year-old, Beauvatier could stay with him. He has the frame to make into a Classic winning colt as we try to repeat our success in this race with Chaldean last year, so Rosallion gets the nudge

Punchestown

Coolmore N.H. Sires Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 3.42
Lossiemouth
Not much bang for your buck, but Lossiemouth has to be Saturday’s banker at Punchestown. She served it up to the re-opposing Telmesomethinggirl in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in fine style, giving the impression there was plenty more under the bonnet with a seamless 3 length success, and can confirm her superiority in this division with a win here. It’s Willie Mullins versus Henry de Bromhead as they field all five runners, but Lossiemouth is the one to beat

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) 4.50
Kargese (nb)
A really good renewal in store with the all-conquering Willie Mullins likely to take the plaudits once again, this time with Kargese. The Closutton yard send out six of the ten starters, but it’s the Triumph Hurdle runner-up that makes the most appeal. She ran far too keenly in the Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree next time out, which meant she couldn’t stay with Sir Gino when push came to shove, so if Paul Townend can get her to settle better, she’s the one to follow. The hat-trick seeking Bottler’secret rates the main danger if Kargese pulls too hard again, but it’s a great duel in store

The Mandarin