The Mandarin, Jaysella and Caroline’s Saturday Selections for 7th February 2026

The Mandarin, Jaysella & Caroline’s Saturday Selections from Newbury Park, Warwick & Naas

Newbury Park

William Hill Denman Chase (Grade 2) 2.10
L’homme Presse (nb)
Just the four going to post, but really this is a match between Haiti Couleurs and L’homme Presse. I must say that I am a big fan of Rebecca Curtis’s stable star, Haiti Couleurs, and he certainly did the business when an impressive winner of the Welsh Grand National in December, and I know Jaysella for one will be fully behind him once again after picking him for that Chepstow feature. However, in L’homme Presse he might have met his match, and although this is a quick turnaround after a bold bid in the Cotswold Chase last month for Venetia Williams’ admirable fencer, L’homme Presse is a class act and will be a tough nut to crack. If Haiti Couleurs is going to be Rebecca Curtis’s dream of Gold Cup star, he has to be winning this, but I’ll take L’homme Presse to be just that bit too good.

William Hill Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) 2.45
Lulamba
Well of course, all eyes will be on Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba, who looks to me to be making into an even better chaser than he was over hurdles. That said, he’s unproven on ground this deep since his debut under rules over in France, but this is a tried and tested route that Nicky Henderson has taken in the past, notably with the great Sprinter Sacre and Altior, who both went on to win the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. Sending Lulamba into open company instead of a spin in the Kingmaker at Warwick, a Novices’ Chase, makes a statement and shows the regard the Seven Barrows handler has in his charge. Saint Segal has only been beaten by Dan Skelton’s Thistle Ask in his four starts this campaign, but has to prove he can act with this much cut, while Libberty Hunter needs to brush up on his fencing, but was second in this race last year, behind the reopposing Master Chewy. Meetmebythesea is a bit of an unknown quantity at this level on this ground, but does look mispriced at over 20/1 for each way value, but Lulamba is taken to win.

William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3.20
Let It Rain
Dan Skelton looks to have primed Let It Rain for a big run at this valuable handicap, who looks to go two better than when third to Dance And Glance & All In You when last seen. The presence of Paul Nicholls’ Tutti Quanti gives her a real chance at these weights, though a cleaner round of hurdling would not go amiss, but to be fair to her, Let It Rain was returning from over a year off the track. As befitting the big prize, it’s a pretty competitive field, with Tutti Quanti also looking laid out for this, but carrying top weight will ask a question on this heavy ground, while Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies’ Un Sens A La Vie will give the father and son partnership plenty of meaning in life if they scoop the pot! Let It Rain to improve from her December run and win another big Handicap for the Skelton brothers, with Ben Pauling’s Lanesborough a decent each way gamble.

Warwick

Get The Best Odds With Oddschecker Warwick Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) 1.15
Hollygrove Cha Cha
Well, she’s been chasing this term, and that ain’t gone too well, so here she is back over the sticks. And I reckon she’s gonna be loving that, and can serve it up to Paul Nicholls’ Jubilee Alpha, who won’t be liking this heavy going in my book, while La Pinsonniere and Flying Fortune both have long absences to overcome. Jubilee Alpha does have a better rating, but I’ll have Hollygrove Cha Cha to lead her home in a merry dance!

Bet Smarter With Oddschecker Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.50
Mambonumberfive (nap)
No Lulamba, and that leaves just the three, which is a bit disappointing, but for me, Mambonumberfive is winning this. There’s not been much to choose between my selection and Sam Thomas’s Steel Ally in the markets this week, but I do think that race tactics could play a part in what could turn out to be a trappy contest. Now, I do know that Steel Ally likes to get on with it out in front, so it will be fascinating to see how much rein Dylan Johnston is prepared to give him from the off, and there’s nothing to say that Tristan Durrell doesn’t think his best plan would be to get Mirabad out there as well. But, tick tock, Ben Jones will be biding his time on Mambonumberfive letting the other two take it on from the front, before he calls their number when their time is up! Yabba-dabba-doo when he does!

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 3.00
Good Girl Kathleen
Very very interesting. That’s my opinion on Emmet Mullins bringing Good Girl Kathleen over to Warwick for this Grade 2. It’s a big drop in trip, hmm, but likely to turn into a bit of a test of stamina given that the huge improver White Noise is in the mix. I reckon there’ll be plenty of pace on from that angle, with David Pipe’s Kingston Queen another that might be pushing the pedal under Conor O’Farrell, but Good Girl Kathleen is slick enough over the sticks and won’t be minding this heavy going. Might even remind her of conditions back in County Carlow, you never know. Dan Skelton’s Supreme Malinas completes my list of two, but Good Girl Kathleen can get upsides of her in the home straight! Hopefully!

Naas

SR Ventilation Supporting Kill GAA Rated Hurdle 1.05
Highland Crystal
Now then , to get things under way at Naas, I’ll be on Gordon Elliott’s Highland Crystal to give me a winning start. To be sure, she is now up against the boys after her success in a Listed mares hurdle at Newbury, but I thought she won with a bit in hand under Jordan Gainsford, and now Jack Kennedy is up, but this is a tougher race in my book. Padraig Roche’s Saratoga was third over this course and distance the last day, and Donnacha O’Brien’s Kilmeaden beat a Willie Mullins hot favourite at Punchestown on soft ground, so must be on my list. Highland Crystal has to give a few pounds all round, but I’ll think she can and win this Rated race.

BBA Ireland Opera Hat Mares Chase (Listed) 4.00
Dinoblue
Well, there’ll be no huge surprise when I tell yuzz that Dinoblue could be winning this! She is most surely the class act of this field, and I’ve ever rated this Doctor Dino mare, who is on for her tenth win over fences which includes this race last year. I’m afraid there’s not much value in Dinoblue at this level, but with Bioluminescence a bit in and out, maybe it’s Uhavemeinstitches to make a race of it.