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The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 27th October 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Saint-Cloud & Aintree

Saint-Cloud

Prix Perth (Group 3) 11.13
Alcantor
Prix Daniel Wildenstein third Alcantor can take the first of the Pattern races on Saint-Cloud’s Sunday card. Andre Fabre’s New Bay colt was just one and a half lengths behind Ramadan in that Group 2 contest, at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend, but importantly was 1 length ahead of the re-opposing Marhaba Ya Sanafi, and now lines up with an extra 2lb pull on that rival. David Menuisier’s Sirona is a progressive filly, and has British Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy along for the ride, and these are the three principals. Alcantor to serve it up to his older rivals now eased in grade.

Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) 11.48
Ballet Slippers
No French runner in this Group 1, but this one is going back to Ireland with Aidan O’Brien’s Ballet Slippers. She looked to have plenty of running in her when third in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket earlier this month, and although no match for the smart prospect Desert Flower, should appreciate this step up in trip, and can beat the three colts with a useful 3lb sex allowance. Joseph O’Brien takes on his father with Tennessee Stud, who will be there to pick up the pieces if Ballet Slippers doesn’t see out the trip, while British raider Green Storm is not out of this. Ballet Slippers to score for Aidan O’Brien.

Criterium International (Group 1) 12.23
Maranoa Charlie
Christopher Head’s unbeaten Wootton Bassett colt has improved with every run, and can take top honours here. The only French runner in a race dominated by raiders from across the Channel, there’s a strong Irish challenge in the shape of the Ballydoyle pair of Twain and Mount Kilimanjaro. The British attack is headed by Ralph Beckett’s Matauri Bay, though this Lope De Vega colt is untried on ground this deep, while there’s been little support for Andrew Balding’s Spirit Of Summer in the markets. Joseph O’Brien’s Apples And Bananas is lining up on a four-timer, but again will have to prove he can act on this surface, so it’s easy to back the jolly. Maranoa Charlie to score for the home team.

Prix Belle de Nuit (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 12.58
Lily Hart
This Group 3 for Fillies & Mares can go to Ireland with Lily Hart. She has to take on course specialist Rue Boissonade who is two from two here on ground with plenty of cut in it, but she has to give 7lbs to Lily Hart and that could be telling. Lily Hart was 10 lengths adrift of Aidan O’Brien’s Grateful in the Prix de Royallieu, but that was a pretty hot Group One on Arc weekend and this is a marked drop in grade. David Menuisier’s hat-trick seeking Entrancement completes the shortlist, but Lily Hart gets weight again from the Expert Eye filly, so Aidan O’Brien’s charge gets the nudge.

Prix Royal-Oak (Group 1) 2.50
Sevenna’s Knight (nb)
A cracking contest in store where Prix du Cadran runner-up Trueshan goes for Group One honours against the big improver Sevenna’s Knight. Although Alan King’s Trueshan couldn’t stay with Kyprios in the Prix du Cadran, he was taking on the undoubted Stayer of his generation, so did well to get that close. However, Sevenna’s Knight has got better with every run this year, and finished strongly in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to show yet more improvement, and this is his trip. Irish raider Grosvenor Square was down the field in the St Leger at Doncaster, but this ground will suit, so expect a big run from Aidan O’Brien’s Galileo colt, while Karl Burke’s hat-trick seeking Al Qareem is another to act on this ground so merits consideration. Sevenna’s Knight to score at his ideal distance.

Prix de Flore (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) 3.25
Almara
Last seen down the field in the Prix de l’Opera on Arc day, Carlos & Yann Lerners’ filly swims in shallower waters here. She was far from disgraced in that Group One assignment, and this looks one for the taking for the home team. Andre Fabre’s Rock’n Swing, and Jessica Harrington’s Irish raider Curvature rate the main threats, while Elusive Princess wasn’t fancied at all for the Prix de l’Opera, but finished just a short head behind the selection. Almara to land this Group 3 for the father and son team.

Aintree

Virgin Bet Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 1.50
Stage Star (nap)
The Old Roan Chase can go to Paul Nicholls’s Stage Star, to make it six wins over fences from ten starts. He’s won first time out every year for the last four years, and with an impregnable record when fresh is hard to oppose again. Ahoy Senor is classy on his day, but does need to get his season started with a run, so it may be Stage Star’s stablemate, Hitman, who proves the biggest threat. Stage Star to score first time out for the fifth year running.

The Mandarin

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