The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 6th August 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Deauville, Haydock Park & Chester

Deauville

Prix Daphnis (Group 3) 2.50
Colombier
Andre Fabre sends out the unbeaten Colombier for this Group 3, one of two waering the Juddmonte silks of the late Khalid Abdullah. The Kingman colt won on soft ground at Chantilly on his racecourse debut over 10 furlongs, before backing that up at ParisLongchamp in the Prix d’Escoville, just holding off the re-opposing Mr Moliere. Heavy ground for this first foray into Pattern company, but he’s one going the right way so gets the nudge

Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest (Group 1) 3.25
Spycatcher (nap)
One of the most important sprints on the European flat racing calendar can go to Karl Burke’s Spycatcher. There’s plenty of British raiders over for this valuable prize pot, not least of them the smart Art Power, who won so well at The Curragh last time out to cement his excellent reputation in Ireland. However, on heavy ground at 6 furlongs Art Power may be vulnerable to some younger legs, which brings Karl Burke’s Cold Case into the equation, but the final vote goes to Spycatcher who won with plenty in hand here last time out. Lined up for this race, and the one to beat

Haydock Park

Race To A Cure For MND Newcomers’ Restricted Maiden Stakes 4.15
Forever Blue
An interesting Maiden Stakes with plenty of yards getting their Juveniles running hot this summer, and the rightly named Rainwater is not least of those. However, Ralph Beckett is on fire at the moment, so a chance is taken on his filly, Forever Blue, to do the business on her racecourse debut. She gets a 3lb allowance from Rainwater, and that could be enough for this daughter of Blue Point to see her first over the line

Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap 4.45
Dark Trooper
It may pay to side with Ed Walkers Dark Trooper for this Sunday Series Sprint Handicap. The trainer is in fine form and this Dark Angel gelding is probably best at this 6 furlong trip, especially given the cut in the ground. The hat-trick seeking Be Proud rates the main threat after a brace of wins at Doncaster, but Dark Trooper remains unexposed and is the one to beat

Chester

Net World Sports Queensferry Stakes (Listed) 3.38
Ehraz (nb)
Fifth of ten in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury was a better result than it looks on bare paper in a blanket finish, so with placed form on heavy ground, Ehraz gets the vote from the inside stall, always a help on the Roodee. Jim Crowley’s been having a fine time of it down on the south coast at Goodwood, but will be glad to get into some better weather after the remnants of Storm Antoni has done it’s worst overnight on Saturday. More than capable of landing this if taking to this tight track

The Mandarin