The Mandarin & Caroline’s Sunday Selections for 12th October
The Mandarin & Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Chepstow & Naas
Chepstow
Tom Malone Bloodstock Novices’ Chase (Listed) 2.42
Blueking D’oroux
Well you’re not going to get much bang for your buck with Blueking D’oroux, but it’s an eagerly anticipated debut over fences. Pretty smart over hurdles, Paul Nicholls’ gelding was a dual Grade 2 winner over the sticks, and has a pretty lofty rating to live up to on his first stab over fences. Of course, any slip-ups, then Dan Skelton’s Doyen Quest will be there to pick up the pieces, while Gordon Elliott’s Speculatrix probably has more wins to come in this sphere. Blueking D’oroux is sure to be well prepped for this, and is all but impossible to oppose at a price to match.
DragonBet ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle (Limited Handicap) 3.17
Listentoyourheart
Top weight Celtic Dino is sure to get plenty of support for Sam Thomas, but he’s got to give oodles of weight to Dan Skelton’s Listentoyourheart, so that’s where I’m sticking my pin. This is his ground and his trip, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Skelton brothers coming storming out of he blocks as the National Hunt season proper gets going. Easily the most improved yard last year, I think that this term Dan and Harry will be a force to be reckoned with. That can start here, when Listentoyourheart makes the most of the pull in the weights to win this Limited Handicap, chiefly at the expense of Celtic Dino and Paul Nicholls’ Tutti Quanti.
DragonBet John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase 3.52
Il Ridoto
It could pay to side with Paul Nicholls and Il Ridoto for this Handicap Chase, though there’s not much between the selection and Jane Williams’ Saint Segal. Of course, Saint Segal is a course and distance winner, but Il Ridoto usually plies his trade at Graded level, with Cheltenham being his regular course, so the undulations of this Chepstow track should hold no fears. In receipt of plenty of weight from this pair is Dan Skelton’s Jet Plane, who completes my shortlist, but I’ll take my chance with Il Ridoto.
Naas
Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final 2.35
Green Citation (nb)
I’ll be putting my faith in green Citation for this Auction Series Race Final. He showed me enough on his debut under rules to think there’ll be plenty more to come, and I do know how much Jaysella is rating these Ghaiyyath sired youngsters, so I’m taking the chance she’s onto something. Obviously, Joseph O’Brien has his yard going well, and there’s no one better than Dylan Browne McMonagle to have up top, so the only negative point I can see is the wide draw, so a late run may be the way to go if good early track position proves tricky to get. David Marnane’s Redemption Road and Noel Meade’s Madbadanddangerous rate the obvious threats, but I’ll chance my luck with improvement aplenty from Green Citation.
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet Stakes (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 3.10
Swelter (nap)
So, Dermot Weld’s Swelter has not been seen since finishing down the field in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May, but I’m finding her easy to back here. I’ve been looking back to her run in the Priory Belle at Leopardstown in March, and I’ve gotta tell you, you could not find a better bit of franked form this season. I mean, with Exactly in second, Cercene in third and Barnavara in seventh, you’ve got two Group One winners and a Group One second giving that race some real depth, so I’m of the opinion that Swelter hasn’t quite finished her campaign yet. Back from a break, for whatever the reason, but Colin Keane is aboard this Juddmonte filly and there is no better on Irish soil than the six time Irish Champion Jockey!
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell Stakes (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 3.45
Island Hopping
I think I’ll be siding with Aidan O’Brien’s Island Hopping for the Bluebell. Last seen in the Prix de Royallieu at the Arc meeting last weekend, this looks a decent enough chance to get back to winning ways, if fully recovered form that Group One race. The hat-trick seeking It’s A Heartbeat steps out of handicap company to a Black Type contest, and there’s no doubting John O’Donoghue’s game Too Darn Hot filly, while Johnny Murtagh’s Cheeky Wink is consistent enough to get into the mis in my book. Jessica Harrington’s Fleur De Chine completes my list, but it’s Island Hopping with Wayne Lordan aboard that floats my boat.
