The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 23rd June 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Pontefract

Northern Commercials Your Local Iveco Dealership EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes 2.00
Violet Love (nb)
She’s had a busy time of it this month, winning at Chepstow, then Bath just a week later, and now lines up for her third run in three weeks. Now under a double penalty for those efforts, but no doubting her dogged attitude, so every chance she’ll see out this extra furlong if this race hasn’t come too soon. Richard Fahey has his youngsters in good nick, so Komorkis has to be noted, but Violet Love in her current mood edges the vote

Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 3.00
River Of Stars (nap)
Ralph Beckett’s River Of Stars is a proven performer at Group level, with a win the Bronte Cup at York last year. She returned to action this season with a decent 2&1/2 length third in that same race, so should strip fitter for that and take this Listed contest. We backed her for the Prix Maurice de Nieuil last year, a Group 2 at ParisLongchamp, where she just failed to reel in home hope The Good Man, but that’s cracking form to take into this level. The one to beat, at a price to match

Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup Handicap 3.30
Yorkindness
The chance is taken that Yorkindness marks a return to form on a track she goes well on. Charlie Johnston got her to the winner’s enclosure three times on this track last term, to go with her other two wins in a busy campaign, so it’s very much horses for courses here. Yorkindness’s run in the Chester Plate was encouraging enough, so she can see off the improving Trooper Bisdee

Tribute Bands Family Day Sunday 28th July Handicap 4.00
Al Anoud
Al Anoud can score for Ralph Beckett in this small field, with the step up in trip taken to suit. The yard’s in better form now than earlier in the season, and Callum Rodriguez takes up the reins, so Al Anoud can serve it up to joint top-weight, Knightswood. The bigger danger is the in-form Dancing In Paris, who has relished the step up to 12 furlongs, but Al Anoud just shades it

Sunpak Potatoes Handicap 5.00
Royal Zabeel
James Tate can take the closer with Royal Zabeel, who was a course and distance winner here at two. This Mastercraftsman colt has left Kevin Ryan and is now returned to 6 furlongs after finding the 7 furlongs at Newmarket too much of a stretch last month. That said, it was his seasonal reappearance, and he did lead the field of nineteen approaching the 2 furlong pole, so can come on for that run to take this. Recent course and distance winner Travis is the one Royal Zabeel has to keep an eye on, especially with William Buick booked, but Royal Zabeel gets the nudge

The Mandarin