Jaysella and Caroline’s Saturday Selections for 27th December 2025

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Kempton Park & Chepstow and Caroline’s Selections from Leopardstown & Limerick

Kempton Park

Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.55
Mambonumberfive
I haven’t got any doubt over Ben Pauling’s Mambonumberfive for the Wayward Lad. Now going for a seasonal hat-trick, after wins at Aintree and Newbury, I reckon he’ll take this step up to a Graded Chase in his stride, and with course form from the Adonis Hurdle back in February, everything looks aligned to me for a big run under the excellent Ben Jones. As a four year old, he also gets weight from all this field, with Sam Thomas’s Lump Sum rating the obvious danger, while for current yard form, you have to note Dan Skelton’s Mirabad. Mambonumberfive to defy the older opposition and score for the Naunton Downs handler.

Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap Chase) 2.30
Thistle Ask (nb)
I’ll take a chance on Dan Skelton’s prolific Thistle Ask for the Desert Orchid Chase. The Haldon Gold Cup winner at Exeter’s big meeting back in November looks one going the right way to me, and old Danny boy will have a grin as wide as the Bristol Channel when Harry books his place in the winner’s enclosure. I can see Jane Williams Saint Segal going close, and I cannot fault the Saints Des Saints gelding for his consistency, but I see Thistle Ask as being less exposed so may have more to come. It’s a big step in grade for Fergal O’Brien’s Ryan’s Rocket, but I do think that Thistle Ask is the one to follow. Fingers crossed!!

Chepstow

Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.40
Manlaga
I’m gonna take a punt on Manlaga for the Juvenile Hurdle Finale, after a very impressive win at Auteuil back in March. Bought up by JP McManus and transferred to Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard in October, she’s sure to be well primed for this Grade 2 against the boys by a trainer that does so well with these types. Obviously, it’s her first run under rules over here, but she showed a super turn of foot when coming from fourth over the last to win by 3 lengths in that fairly deep race at Auteuil. There has been plenty of money going down on Gary & Josh Moore’s Sandown Park winner Macktoad, so he’s one to keep note of, but giving weight away he’ll need to be at his very best in the hat-trick bid. Manlanga to score in the gold and green hoops of JP McManus, I hope!

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.50
Haiti Couleurs
Well, I narrowed this Welsh Grand National down to three, Rebecca Curtis’s exciting chaser Haiti Couleurs, Sara Bradstock’s Mr Vango and Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith’s O’Connell. It’s easy to make a case for any of these, and it is O’Connell that gets over a stone in weight from the other two, while with no rain around Mr Vango might not get his ground, but Haiti Couleurs is the class act so gets my vote. I reckon that there’s more to come from Rebecca Curtis’s stable star, and I’m happy to draw a line through his run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, thinking that he should come on for that first run over fences this campain. Of course, it’s probably the Grand National in the Spring that’s the season’s target, but there’s so much untapped potential I can see in Haiti Couleurs that he gets my vote, despite giving all that weight away to the in-form O’Connell, where a reverse Forecast looks tempting.

Leopardstown

Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) 1.12
Found A Fifty
So all the hot money this week has been piling on Willie Mullins’s Majborough, with Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale close behind. But, I’m going to buck that trend and tell you that Found A Fifty’s winning this. There you are, I’ve said the unthinkable, but I reckon I can put my reputation on the line this time. And these are my reasons: Majborough did look good at the front in the Hilly Way Chase on the Mallow at Cork the last day, but some untidy jumping cost him the race, while Marine Nationale hasn’t been seen since April, and was withdrawn from the Fortria Chase at Navan on account of the soft ground. So, conditions are fine for Marine Nationale, but he may be susceptible to a race-fit Found A Fifty, who I think has progressed this year. Interesting, but Found A Fifty has won eight of fourteen chase starts, and does look to have improved again, so gets my pick over Majborough.

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.47
Love Me Tender
Willie Mullins pulled the plug on Love Me Tender’s intended run in the Royal Bond, but he gets his ground here and is sure to go close. Already three from three, his run in a Grade 3 the last day was very, very good, and it’s possible there’s more to come now in a better contest. I do prefer Love Me Tender to stablemate Le Divin Enfant, so Gordon Elliott’s Skylight Hustle might be the one to look out for as the Cullentra first sting, though Koktail Brut did win the Royal Bond and is on a hat-trick. All in all, a super race, but I’m sure as a gun that Love Me Tender will go very close.

Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Listed) 3.00
Captain Cody
Just third in the Drinmore, but I’m thinking that this Scottish National winner really needs further, so this trip is the least that he needs. I’m also of the opinion that we haven’t seen the best of this seven year old yet, and if he can progress again as he did last season, could be a Gold Cup contender next year. In the meantime, can he defy top weight in this Handicap Chase? Well, I think he can, so Captain Cody edges it for me over Gavin Cromwell’s Ballysax Hank and Emmet Mullins Backmersackme.

Limerick

McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.27
The Big Westerner (nap)
I believe this one’s going to Henry de Bromhead with The Big Westerner, who can progress from a fine second in a Beginners Chase to take this. It was Willie Mullins’s Jimmy De Seuil who beat her in that Fairyhouse race, but against her own sex this looks just a bit easier. I do think that there’s much more progression to come in The Big Westerner for a trainer that does so well with his chasers, and I’m thinking that she’ll get even further in time. Jade De Grugy, another Willie Mullins chaser starting out was a dual Grade One winner over hurdles, and looks to improve again from her third to Kala Conti, who was my selection that day before going onto win a Mares Grade 2, so this is looking well franked form. The Big Westerner to come home ahead of Jade De Grugy with conditions just what she wants.