The Mandarin’s Friday Selections for 27th December 2024

The Mandarin’s Friday Selections from Leopardstown, Limerick, Kempton Park & Chepstow

Leopardstown

Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) 1.10
Gaelic Warrior (nap)
It’s hard to ignore the appeal of Gaelic Warrior for this Grade One feature. Willie Mullins has an embarrassment of riches lining up here, with Dinoblue, Gentleman De Mee and Blue Lord all going to post alongside Gaelic Warrior, while Gordon Elliott pitches his smart chaser, Found A Fifty, into this Grade 1 after a smooth success in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan last month. Add in Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale and Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness, and it’s one hell of a race. Gaelic Warrior to prove just that little bit special to land this, with Dinoblue in receipt of 7lbs to keep him honest.

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.45
Bleu De Vassy
Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra yard has an enviable recent record in this, and can score again with Bleu De Vassy. Unbeaten in two starts this season, including a 5 length win over Joseph O’Brien’s Mr Percy in a Grade 3 at Navan last time out, he looks good for the hat-trick here. However, Sam Ewing prefers Romeo Coolio, second in the Royal Bond at the start of the month, while Willie Mullins relies on French recruit Karniquet. Bleu De Vassy to continue the good run, chiefly at the expense of stablemate Romeo Coolio.

Paddy Power Chase (Extended Limited Handicap Chase) (Listed) 3.00
Meetingofthewaters
Last year’s winner Meetingofthewaters is worthy of support for this Listed contest, having completed last season with a solid seventh in the Grand National at Aintree. He’s carrying well over a stone more this time, but Peter Smithers’ 7lb claim is a useful offset, as stablemate Nick Rockett lines up from the top of the weights. Martin Brassil’s Panda Boy is much respected having made the frame in the last two renewals, so these are the three, with Meetingofthewaters edging the vote.

Limerick

McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.27
Shecouldbeanything
It could pay to side with Gordon Elliott’s Shecouldbeanything for this Grade 2 Mares Chase. She set off on a prolific run in September, scoring a quickfire four-timer, before putting in a decent shift in the Grade One Drinmore at Fairyhouse, with her last of five finishing position a better run than it looks on bare paper. An extra couple of furlongs here, so less emphasis on speed, and she can serve it up to ante-post favourite Bioluminescence.

Kempton Park

Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.55
Ballyburn (nb)
The brilliant winner of the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring, made no mistake in getting off the mark over fences when bolting up at Punchestown last month. Sure to top the ranks in the Novice Chasing Division if he scores here, there’s more on his plate this time with Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino lining up, having fairly well waltzed home in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, and goes straight into this Grade 2 on his first start over fences. Paul Nicholls relies on Rubaud, but Ballyburn looks one out of the top drawer so gets the nudge over the untried Sir Gino.

Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2.30
Martator
Venetia Williams will be hoping that Martator can continue his good run of form to get deserved Pattern form into the book. He finished last season well with a cosy 7 length win at Sandown Park, but seems to be an even better model this term, scoring twice at Ascot and now steps into Graded company. Boothill has been prominent in the betting this week, but tends to save his best for Ascot, while Alan King’s Edwardstone might find this going a bit quick, but at least isn’t stuck with the rear end view of Douvan for once. Dan Skelton’s Calico looks an each-way steal at around 25/1, but it’s Martator for the win, as Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch continue to rack up the winners.

Chepstow

Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.40
Opec
James Owen has been going great guns with his Juvenile string this year, so Opec looks as good as any to pick here. There’s been plenty of support for French raider Nietzsche Has this week, and although he’s been going well in a couple of Pattern races at home track Auteuil this year, Chepstow’s course brings different challenges, though any extra cut in the going won’t be an issue. However, Opec lines up here on a hat-trick, so with James Owen on a roll, if the ground does not inconvenience him, further progress to come.

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.50
Fontaine Collonges
Fontaine Collonges was 12 lengths too good for the re-opposing Monbeg Genius in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Haydock Park last month, but there’s an 8lb switch in the weights this time, so Monbeg Genius is entitled to get closer. The form of Venetia Williams yard cannot be faulted though, so both Fontaine Collonges and Chambard make the shortlist, along with Gordon Elliott’s Where It All Began and Sam Thomas’s Iwilldoit. The ground shouldn’t be too desperate for this year’s renewal in a race that can turn out a true test of stamina, so Fontaine Collonges looks ideally placed to benefit.

The Mandarin