The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 13th January 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Kempton, Wetherby, Warwick & Fairyhouse

Kempton

Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2) 2.07
Pic D’orhy
Only beaten once last season in a run of four wins and a runners-up spot that included a win in this race, Paul Nicholls’s Pic D’orhy is the one to follow. The smart Irish raider, Banbridge and Alan King’s Edwardstone make this a classic renewal, while Laura Morgan’s Notlongtillmay and Willie Mullins’s highly rated Janidil add plenty of depth to this field of five. However, Pic D’orhy looks an even better model this term, and can only come on for his win in the 1965 Chase at Ascot, so gets the nudge

Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle 2.42
Sonigino
Always a hot handicap, this year’s Lanzarote can go to Sonigino, despite lining up on a career high mark for his win at Aintree last month. His 6 length win on that flattish track reads solid form to take onto Kempton’s course, and although this trip is a furlong more than Aintree, there’s every chance that this is still in his range on this ground. Nicky Henderson’s Impose Toi and Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion will be the main threats, and giving weight to this pair means Sonigino will have to be at very best, but he’s as good as ever this season and should go close

Wetherby

William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.10
Colonel Harry
There’s plenty of excitement about Jamie Snowden’s Colonel Harry after he finished runner-up in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park last month. Connections obviously had plenty of faith to send him into a Grade 1 Novices’ event on just his second start over fences, and he didn’t disappoint, only finding Le Patron too good. Eased a touch in grade here, so with conditions to suit, has to be a warm order favourite to land this

Warwick

TrustATrader Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2.24
Grey Dawning (nb)
Dan Skelton will be hoping the return to Warwick will bring more success for Grey Dawning. Last seen a three-quarter length runner-up in a Class 2 contest at Cheltenham, despite hampering his chance with a messy jump two out, he can go one better here. There’s been plenty of money in the ante-post markets for Lucinda Russell’s Apple Away who gets plenty of weight from the selection, but Grey Dawning gets the tick

Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.00
Galia Des Liteaux
A red-hot Handicap for a big prize, so it’s going to be a hard run race despite the marathon trip on this ground. The ready preference is for course winner Galia Des Liteaux, who won on this card last year and won’t be complaining about the conditions, fresh from putting plenty of pressure on the useful Pink Legend in a Listed contest at Newbury last time out. That form has been backed up since with the third, Rose Of Arcadia finishing a solid third in the Sussex National last week over this trip, so Galia Des Liteaux it is

Fairyhouse

SBK Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 1.57
Letsbeclearaboutit (nap)
Gavin Cromwell’s smart Novice Chaser drops into handicap company, and should be right in the thick of things for this Grade 3 contest. His third of five in the Grade 1 Drinmore here last month is decent form to take into this race, and with winning course form has to top the shortlist. With no concerns over ground this deep, Letsbeclearaboutit is the one to keep on side

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2.32
Hunters Yarn
Willie Mullins will be hoping for a better slice of luck for Hunters Yarn on just his second start over fences. He looked all the way the winner on this track on his chasing bow, until falling at the last, so is sure to come on for that run. Despite that fall, Hunters Yarn had put in a decent round of fencing until the last, so is taken to get off the mark here

The Mandarin