The Mandarin & Caroline’s Sunday Selections for 7th December 2025
The Mandarin & Caroline’s Sunday Selections from Huntingdon & Cork for Sunday 7th December
Huntingdon
Sky Bet Peterborough Chase (Grade 2) 3.00
Djelo (nap)
Last year’s winner Djelo can score again for Venetia Williams, with conditions just about perfect here at Huntingdon. If anything, he’s a better model this year, winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in fine style last month, beating Pic D’orhy by a length. So, with form over Paul Nicholls’ Hitman from the Denman Chase at Newbury Park back in February, it will be Irish raider Saint Sam who will give Djelo the most to think about. Saint Sam is a pretty solid opponent, and has Harry Cobden booked for the trip, but Djelo is the one I’ll follow.
Sky Bet, For The Fans Henrietta Knight Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) 3.30
Lune Brillante
I’m going to go with Dan Skelton’s Lune Brillante for this Mares Flat Race, and she wouldn’t have to improve much from her win at Carlisle to take this. She won that Class 5 with plenty in hand, so can take this step up to a Black Type contest in her stride, with Irish raider Wonderful Everyday rating the main danger having won the valuable Goffs Defender Bumper at Punchestown in April. Babs was a surprise winner on her debut under rules at Stratford, so joins my list of three, but Lune Brillante gets my backing for the in form Dan Skelton.
Cork
Coolmore N.H. Sires Order Of St George Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.40
Kala Conti
The first chance to see the brilliant Mare Kargese over fences, but I’m of the opinion she can be opposed with Kala Conti. My thinking is that Kala Conti edges it on experience, having made a winning start here two Sundays back, and although this is a significant drop in trip, Jack Kennedy will be confident that Kala Conti can attack these fences. Kargese’s stablemate Jalila Moriviere won with so much in hand on her first start over fences that her ability is obviously untapped, so makes my shortlist with Mark Walsh taking over from Paul Townend. Kala Conti to serve it up to Kargese in a cracking little Mares Novice Chase.
Joe Buckley Construction Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 2.15
Kalypso’chance
The way that Gordon Elliott’s Kalypso’chance got himself into a commanding position in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle makes me think he’ll relish this trip. That said, Kalypso’chance has to give almost a stone away to the three Mares here, but with plenty of rain down on The Mallow, does get ideal conditions. I think he’ll stay this 3 mile trip, though that’s taken on trust, but Emmet Mullins’ Good Girl Kathleen is proven over this Stayers distance here, and can give Kalypso’chance a race. Kalypso’chance to win, just!
Bar 1 Betting Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2) 2.50
Energumene (nb)
I do get the point that Energumene isn’t getting any younger, but this is his usual start to his campaign and I’ll for one back him to get the hat-trick. Now, all eyes of course are going to be on Majborough as he makes a highly anticipated step into open company, having won three of four chases as a Novice, but I do suspect with all the rain about that conditions might not be ideal. Let’s hope I’m right, but I’ve no fears for Energumene there, and that just makes me more certain he can pull off the hat-trick under Paul Townend. Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty lines up after scoring in the Fortria Chase at Navan, so adds real spice to this Grade 2, but Energumene gets my vote.
