The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 14th March 2026

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Uttoxeter & Kempton Park

Uttoxeter

Jeninngsbet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Hurdle 1.50
West To The Bridge
Returning from a week at Cheltenham with winners in the bag, lets give the old boy West To The Bridge a heads up for the opener. He showed he was as good as ever when staying on well at Chepstow back in January, and if allowed to boss things from the front could be in for a 2026 double. Likely to need every yard of this trip, and wouldn’t mind if the overnight rain persisted, but a decent enough chance all the same.

Jenningsbet Handicap Hurdle 2.25
A Pai De De Nom (nap)
After a fine third in the Lanzarote at Kempton, A Pai De Nom won with plenty in hand at Newbury Park, and can go in again. The Handicapper reacted after that easy 5 length victory, but he’s four from six now over timber and probably hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. Top weight French Ship is a classy sort for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, and was going well enough in the Rendlesham at Haydock Park when unseating Lorcan Williams three out, so heads my list of dangers, with Fergal O’Brien’s John Barbour also considered. A Pai De Nom to continue the winning run from a mark that still looks lenient from here.

Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National (Premier Handicap) 3.00
My Immortal
I’m going to take a chance on Irish raider My Immortal for this Midlands Grand National. My guess is that Barry Connell’s lightly raced gelding will still be going when plenty of others have thrown in the towel on this marathon trip, and I would expect a prominent ride from Finian Maguire, and the more overnight rain the better. Course winner Aworkinprogress is six from seven over fences, so might fancy a name change to Jobdone if he wins this! Nick Gifford’s progressive seven year old won the Surrey National last time out, so has stamina in droves, and I can see My Immortal and Aworkinprogress both being right there at the sharp end. Emmet Mullins J’arrive De L’est will be coming from the East hoho! when he makes his move, and after plying his trade over the Cross Country Courses won’t lack for stamina either. My Immortal to see this one out with Aworkinprogress and J’arrive De L’est keeping him honest.

Jenningsbet ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle 4.10
Kadastral
Dan Skelton’s Kadastral couldn’t stay with Sober Glory at Newbury Park last time out, where the heavy ground eventually put paid to his effort. It was nip and tuck between the pair until the 2 furlong pole, but that form couldn’t be any better franked than when Sober Glory was second in the Supreme Novices’ on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival this week. A longer trip, and better ground should make life a little easier for Kadastral, who’s progressing well enough and has Harry Skelton back for company. Down in grade from the Newbury race, but considering Sober Glory’s form, does look like he has every chance of winning this.

Kempton Park

Virgin Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2.08
Chuggy
Dan Skelton’s Chuggy couldn’t stay with the pace of Throatlash at Aintree back in December, but the extra couple of furlongs should help here. However, that made it three wins and a second from his four starts over fences, so he’s definitely one going the right way, and should cope better with this surface than James Owen’s Secret Des Dieux. These are the principals, but I’ll take my chance with the in form yard of Dan Skelton with Chuggy.

Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Chase 3.18
Blueking D’oroux (nb)
Blueking D’oroux hasn’t fully convinced yet over fences, but in this grade should be right in the thick of things. Last seen in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase here on Boxing Day, the form of that race looks strong with the winner Kitzbuhel winning the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Harry Cobden was up aboard Kitzbuhel in that Cheltenham race, but now he’s on Blueking D’oroux, so let us hope he can keep the winning streak going. Nicky Henderson’s Califet En Vol is the obvious danger, winning here over course and distance last month, so these two should be the ones to follow. Blueking D’oroux to get it all together over fences and repay Paul Nicholls’ faith in him.

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase 4.28

The Mandarin