The Mandarin’s Cheltenham Festival Racecard for Wednesday 12th March 2025

The Mandarin’s Cheltenham Festival Racecard for Wednesday 12th March

Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.20
The New Lion
An absolutely fascinating opener on Wednesday, where the Irish have a particularly strong hand with Final Demand and The Yellow Clay. It could be that hot favourite Final Demand will demolish the opposition here, if he can repeat the sort of run that saw him win by 12 lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival, and we’re sure we haven’t seen the best of him yet. The choice of Paul Townend, Final Demand has been backed in this week. However, we are going to buck the trend and go for Dan Skelton’s The New Lion, who was quickly added to the JP McManus team after waltzing home in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, for an undisclosed sum. The New Lion is bred to stay so won’t be wanting for stamina coming up Cheltenham’s stiff finish, and that just tips the scales in his favour. The Yellow Clay is another fine Novice Hurdler, and would be expected to be in the mix, but might be wanting more cut in the ground, so The New Lion is the one to follow.

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2.00
Ballyburn (nap)
The outstanding Novice Hurdler last season, including Grade One honours here, Ballyburn couldn’t stay with an exuberant Sir Gino at Kempton, but should be winning this. With no Sir Gino in the line-up, Ballyburn justified the short odds-on price in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown last time out, and this step up in trip is sure to suit. Stablemate Dancing City looks better the further he goes, and was a Grade One winner over this trip at Aintree last year, so rates the main threat, while another Closutton inmate, Lecky Watson, looks a super each-way angle. Ballyburn to confirm his superiority in this division with victory here.

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2.40
Be Aware
A tricky race to pick apart, but at least Dan Skelton’s Be Aware has some solid course form in the book. Second to Burdett Road in the Greatwood here in November was a fine run, and he looks well weighted to put in a big shift here. The latest run at Ascot was better run than the result looks on paper, with Be Aware having to run around the fallen Secret Squirrel after the last, so Harry Skelton deserves a bit more luck in running this time. Nicky Henderson’s Impoise Toi and Henry de Bromhead’s Ballyadam have both been laid out for this race, but Be Aware gets the nudge.

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Limited Handicap) 3.20
Galvin
Runner-up here to stablemate Delta Work in 2023, Galvin is eleven now, but still capable of winning this. He won’t be lacking for stamina around here and expect Galvin to be in the mix with the well-fancied Stumptown and Latenightpass, who was third to Stumptown in December over this track, but now gets an 8lb pull in the weights. Mister Coffey split that pair in that December race, and this completes the shortlist, with Galvin getting our vote.

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 4.00
Jonbon (nb)
It’s about time that Jonbon won a Grade One at Cheltenham, having won the Grade Two Shloer Chase here for the last two years. Beaten by El Fabiolo in 2023, and absent last year when the Seven Barrows yard of Nicky Henderson wasn’t at the races, so to speak, this brilliant chaser deserves his day in the sun on the biggest stage of all. Dual winner of the Champion Chase, Energumene is eleven now, so might be lacking for pace on ground this quick, but cannot be written off, while Supreme Novices winner, Marine Nationale and the progressive Solness both have valid claims if Jonbon is not at his very best. Jonbon to finally nail the big one here at Cheltenham, and there’ll be no more popular winner this week.

Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4.40
My Mate Mozzie
Another race that could to any number of runners, but Gavin Cromwell’s My Mate Mozzie has as good a claim as any other. Equally effective on the flat, the conditions here will be just the ticket for another crack at a Cheltenham win, and he’s been lightly raced over the winter, with just the one start at Leopardstown to knock the dust off him before this challenge. My Mate Mozzie was good enough to line up in the Arkle last year, and dropped into handicap company could give him a great chance. Dan Skelton’s Unexpected Party has been aimed at this, and this fine chaser is likely to be in the thick of things, while top weight JPR One has mostly been trying his trade at Pattern level, so is interesting in this grade. Jazzy Matty won the Fred Winter here two years ago so joins a long list of possibles, but My Mate Mozzie gets the final decision.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1) 5.20
Aqua Force
A typically open Champion Bumper where there’s any amount of chances, though Willie Mullins has, not surprisingly, filled plenty of the top spots in the ante-post markets. It is one of the Closutton brigade that we are going to plump for, and that’s Aqua Force. Snapped up by JP McManus, she was impressive enough on her debut under rules at Gowran Park, and although the relative strength of that race is questionable, you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and she did that by 28 lengths. Her new owner has come out to say that he’d taken an ante-post bet on Copacabana, so he’s shortlisted, along with home hope No Drama This End from Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard, and the rangy Gameofinches which is Paul Townend’s choice. I’ve taken a pin for the donkey’s tail for the Champion Bumper, and Aqua Force came out tops!

The Mandarin