The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 11th January 2025

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Fairyhouse & Ffos Las

Fairyhouse

SBK Mares Maiden Hurdle 12.32
Qualimita
A decent enough Maiden in store if Fairyhouse thaws out in time to run Saturday’s card. We’ll stick with the racing experience of Gordon Elliott’s Qualimita, who wouldn’t have to improve much from her fourth in a Novice Hurdle at Naas to take this. However, she’s got a couple of interesting rivals in Willie Mullins’s Kimi De Mai, and Gavin Cromwell’s Sixandahalf, as the former has a highly anticipated first start on Irish soil for the powerful Closutton yard, while Sixandahalf was third in the Irish Cesarewitch, so has to be noted. Qualimita to put her hurdling form on show and serve it up to the two debutantes.

SBK Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 1.45
Midnight It Is
Gavin Cromwell holds the key to this Grade 3 contest with the hat-trick seeking Midnight It Is. He looks worth a try in Pattern company having won on his seasonal reappearance at Navan last month, and boasts course form here to boot. Top-weight Hunters Yarn can only come on for his first run of this campaign, but has to give the selection 20lbs, which looks a big ask if the course thaws out to soft ground, so American Mike might prove to be the main danger, with Carl Millar’s 5lb claim a useful offset to his handicap mark. Midnight It Is to keep the good start going and land the hat-trick.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2.18
Tullyhill
The choice of Paul Townend and sure to have a future over fences judged by his first try here last month. Obviously, up against the smart prospect Majborough, he was always going to be the stable second string, but went well with the winner for a long way and can only come on for that run. What’s Up Darling looks one going the right way for Gordon Elliott, but wouldn’t want the ground too deep, while Tullyhill’s stablemate, Asian Master, will find conditions ideal and is preferred to another Closutton inmate, Mistergif, who has the newly recruited JJ Slevin aboard, sporting the Isaac Souede & Simon Munir double green silks. Tullyhill to get off the mark at the second time of asking.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase 2.51
Bleu D’enfer
Still a maiden after seven starts over fences, but nearly lost that tag when a short-head second to Kiltealy Park at Clonmel last month. The new retained jockey for Isaac Souede & Simon Munir will be doing his very best to fill Daryl Jacob’s boots, something he is more than capable of, so expect a big run, though he’s got a job on his hands with Gavin Cromwell’s Noble Birth lining up. Bleu D’enfer to score for Stuart Crawford and JJ Slevin.

SBK (Pro/Am) Flat Race 3.26
Runcok
Although no match for his smart stablemate Sortudo at Tramore back in November, Runcok is worth being given another chance here. He was warming to the task late on in that 2 mile Bumper on soft ground, so if there’s enough of a thaw here at Fairyhouse, every chance of losing the maiden tag. Gordon Elliott’s pricey purchase out of a point, Skylight Hustle, lines up in the Robcour silks and rates the main threat, but Runcok gets our vote for the closer.

Ffos Las

DragonBet Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.15
Handstands (nap)
Ben Pauling and Ben Jones had a fine time of things over the Christmas meetings, and can continue the good run with Handstands. The Towton, transferred from it’s usual venue at Wetherby due to the deep freeze that has decimated the National Hunt schedule since last week, was won on it’s first running in 1996 by Mr Mulligan, who of course went on to win the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival the following year. Fresh from landing the Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park, Handstands had the re-opposing Saint Davy 4 lengths behind, and with similar going here, no reason to expect a reversal of those placings. Dan Skelton is having a fine time this term, so Cherie D’am rates the main danger, but Handstands is hard to oppose.

DragonBet The Independent Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle 2.58
Rosscahill (nb)
Nigel Twiston-Davies can take this with Rosscahill, who is two from tow here at Ffos Las. he does look awkward in running, with his hind legs splayed into a rounded action, but there’s no doubting his tenacity, especially when regaining the lead after being headed two out last month. James Owen’s One Big Bang has just scraped favouritism this week, but Rosscahill clearly likes it here and can bring up the course hat-trick.

The Mandarin