The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 16th March 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Thurles & Kempton

Thurles

Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3) 2.30
Mister Policeman (nap)
After a brilliant record-breaking week at Cheltenham, it’s back to business on home soil for Willie Mullins. He can land this Grade 3 contest with Mister Policeman, who won a Rated Novice Chase at Punchestown last month in cosy fashion under a hands and heels ride from Paul Townend. This is a warm up for the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, his next engagement, so should be winning this

End Of The Season Hurdle 4.15
Summerville Boy
Summerville Boy is getting into the veteran stage now, but showed all the old spark remained when following home Monkfish in the Galmoy Hurdle last time out. He’s defending his crown in this too, as he led from the front on his only previous run at Thurles in this race, beating the smart Asterion Forlonge. It seems an age since he won the Supreme Novices’ at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018, but Summerville Boy is just as sharp as ever, and has Rachael Blackmore for company. Hard to oppose a repeat win

www.thurlesraces.ie (Pro/Am) Flat Race 5.25
Colcannon (nb)
First past the post at Punchestown last month, but disqualified when the jockey weighed in light. There’s sure to be no mistake this time around and with conditions similar, Noel Meade’s charge can lose the maiden tag. The one to beat

Kempton

Try Unibet’s New Acca Boosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 1.35
Beau Balko
A puzzler for the opener on Kempton’s Saturday card, where a chance is taken on Paul Nicholls’s Beau Balko. With Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard under a cloud, it’s easy to see past Persian Time, while Karl Burke’s Soul Icon has been highly tried but can’t seem to get it together here at Kempton. Gary Moore’s Issar D’airy lines up on a hat-trick but that hasn’t escaped the attention of the Handicapper, so by default it leaves us Beau Balko. No concerns over this stable’s form, and opened his account over fences at Musselburgh last time out, so gets the nudge

Read Nicky Henderson’s Exclusive Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle 2.10
Kateira
Dropped into handicap company, Kateira could be the answer for Dan Skelton. The Skelton brothers had a fantastic week at Prestbury Park, though Harry gets the leg up on Kateira’s stablemate, Boombawn here, but there’s no doubting the hot spell of form the yard is in, so it’s easy to see more success coming their way. Nico de Boinville takes up the reins, and he must be pleased to get a ride from an in-form stable, so Kateira it is

Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Chase 2.45
Outlaw Peter
Paul Nicholls can continue a fine run this season with Outlaw Peter who is a dual course winner over hurdles. There wasn’t much to read into his first start over fences as there was only one other rival, but his run here on Boxing Day suggested there’s more to come now chasing. Flegmatik is the big danger, but Outlaw Peter gets 5lbs, so looks to be weighted to win this

The Mandarin