RACECARDS
The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 18th January 2025

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Ascot & Haydock Park
Ascot
BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle 12.30
Mondo Man
The opener looks like a straight duel between the two French recruits, Mondo Man and Lulamba. Both are making highly anticipated first runs on British soil, and the costly purchase Mondo Man is the one that should act on this ground, so edges selection over ante-post hot favourite Lulamba, who does at least have winning form over timber in the book at Auteuil. However, Mondo Man was smart on the flat, finishing a fine fifth in the French Derby, and being sold on for over half a million Euros was quite a statement. In good hands with Gary & Josh Moore who do well with these types, and Caoilin Quinn on the reins just adds to the appeal. Mondo Man to beat the jolly.
BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.40
Kargese
It’s hard to get away from Willie Mullins’s Kargese for this Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle. The best Irish Juvenile last season, second to stablemate Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring, she took her form up a notch when taking the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival to round off a great campaign. She should hit the ground running here for last year’s Champion Trainer, with his string starting to fire as the Dublin Racing Festival draws near, and should be classy enough to fend off the attentions of Dan Skelton’s Take No Chances and Ben Clarke’s Ooh Betty. Jonjo O’Neill’s All The Glory is an interesting outsider, but Kargese should be winning this.

bet365 Handicap Chase 2.15
Martator
Venetia Williams got Martator into a fine run last year, winning five on the bounce including three times here. He’s never been out of the first three in twelve starts over fences, so looks a solid bet here despite heading up the weights, as Ned Fox’s 3lb claim is a useful offset. Joe Tizzard is having a fine season at Venn Farm Stables, so Scarface comes into the equation after a decent second place here last month, while Ben Pauling is another trainer going well, so Bad makes the shortlist despite being 5lbs wrong in the weights. Martator to score for Venetia Williams now back in a Handicap, and at his better trip.
BetMGM Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) 3.32
Jonbon (nb)
The Clarence House Chase is a race cemented in the memory, when none other than crowd favourite Desert Orchid took this Grade One prize in nineteen eighty nine, on its inaugural running. With the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the natural stepping stone from here, this race occupies an important place in the National Hunt calendar. It has produced some memorable duels over the years, not least when the great Shiskin managed to get upsides of Energumene in 2022, having looked beaten going over the last, until Nico de Boinville somehow managed get one late burst out of Nicky Henderson’s star chaser. This renewal is all about Jonbon, the premier two mile chaser from the same Seven Barrows yard, who lines up against Energumene, and last year’s runner-up, Edwardstone, when the race was moved to Cheltenham. This year, Ascot specialist Boothill also joins the party, but It’s Jonbon for the win, and that looks a nailed on bet on the good to soft ground expected. A terrific race in store, not to be missed.

Haydock Park
Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.55
Royal Infantry
Dan Skelton’s Royal Infantry would not need to improve much from his course and distance win last time out to put some Black Type in the book here. Obviously, this is a deeper race, with Sandy Thomson’s Dedicated Hero and Katy Price’s Peacenik lining up, while Irish raider Cloonainra seemed to like the drop in trip when runner-up at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day, so can also make the shake-up. Haydock Park is one for those who can take plenty of cut in the winter months, so Royal Infantry looks to have the measure of these rivals in these conditions. Respected.
Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.30
Royal Pagaille (nap)
Horses for courses here, as Royale Pagaille bids for the hat-trick in the Peter Marsh after landing this in 2021 & 2022. Eleven years old now, but proved he was just as good as ever when landing the Betfair Chase for the second time in November, at the expense of hot favourite Grey Dawning. We napped him for that defence, having scored in 2023, and now five from six around here is very hard to oppose for this contest, despite shouldering top-weight. Sara Bradstock’s Mr Vango is one going the right way over fences, and gets lumps of weight from Royale Pagaille, while Kim Bailey’s Trelawne has course form, so has to be noted. It’s going to be a true test of stamina around Haydock Park in these sapping conditions, but Royale Pagaille is the one to stick with.
The Mandarin
