The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 1st March 2025

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Newbury Park, Kelso, Doncaster & Navan

Newbury Park

BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.45
Vincenzo
Given the soft ground at Newbury Park, it could pay to side with Sam Thomas’s Vincenzo. This Dr Dino gelding is one going the right way over fences, and wouldn’t have to improve much from his win at Sandown Park last time out to score here, with the extra trip taken to be a plus. Nudged up by the Handicapper for that 3 length win, but unexposed over this trip and still has Dylan Johnston’s claim as a useful offset. The well weighted Billytherealbigred also appeals with a similar profile, while The Kandoo Kid is a classy act, and that makes the three.

Kelso

bet365 Handicap Chase 1.10
Real Stone
With Dan and Harry Skelton going great guns this year, Real Stone looks an enticing pick for this Handicap Chase, despite carrying top-weight. He made all at Wetherby four weeks back in an unchallenged run under 3lb claimer Tristan Durrell, and earned a 6lb nudge up the weights for that impressive victory, but with Harry Skelton taking up the reins a big run is on the cards. Alan King’s Helnwein looks sure to go close, but The Real Stone is easy to back in this field of six.

bet365 Premier Chase (Listed) 1.45
Grey Dawning (nap)
Freshened up after a break, Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning should be winning this. Not seen since putting in an uncharacteristically poor show in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, this second season chaser is highly thought of in the yard, confirming all the promise at last year’s Cheltenham Festival when landing the Turners Novices’ Chase. That Grade One form should make him a hot favourite for this before his next date in the diary, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The progressive Iroko rates the main danger, but it’s hard to get away from Grey Dawning for this Listed contest.

bet365 Handicap Hurdle 2.20
Ace Of Spades (nb)
Another race that can go to the Skelton brothers, on what could be a terrific day for them up here at Kelso. With a win at Cheltenham’s Autumn Festival in the book, followed up by a win here the following month, Ace Of Spades goes for the hat-trick now stepping into handicap company. The smart prospect Mr Bramley rates the danger, as he’s now four from six over timber for Jed O’Keefe, but Ace Of Spades is on a roll so gets the vote.

bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.55
Vanderpoel
The red hot combination of Ben Pauling and Ben Jones can take this Grade 2 with Vanderpoel. This Sholokhov gelding has drawn plenty of attention for the taking win at Ludlow last month, and there’s every chance he can step up to this Pattern grade for the in-form yard. There’s plenty of likely types to put up a fight though, not least course specialist Dedicated Hero lining up for Sandy Thomson, and Dan Skelton’s Listentoyourheart. Irish raider Chart Topper is on a winning streak, so Willie Mullins charge completes the shortlist, but Vanderpoel looks the one to follow.

bet365 Morebattle Hurdle 3.30
Vischio
With a choice of entries for Vischio at the Cheltenham Festival in just over a week’s time, Emmet Mullins will be looking to win the Morebattle here as he did in 2021 with The Shunter. Fully out there after twenty-five starts over timber, Vischio has been better than ever this season, and picked up a nice prize at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out. The move to Emmet Mullins from Dick Donohue seems to have freshened her up, so Vischio can get the better of Alan King’s Favour And Fortune and Jonjo & AJ O’Neill’s Tellherthename.

Doncaster

Livescore Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 2.05
Miss Cynthia
It could pay to take a gamble on the improving Miss Cynthia for this Listed contest. Useful on the flat for Sir Mark Prescott, this step up in trip and grade could be just the ticket for this unexposed five year old. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Dameofthecotswolds is good enough at this level on her day, but didn’t seem to see out this trip when last of five at Windsor in January, and was again at the back of the field at Warwick last time out. Liam Kenny’s Irish raider has been getting plenty of support this week, but Miss Cynthia has more improvement in her and gets the nudge.

Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase 3.15
White Rhino
This can go to Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s White Rhino, who is the class act of this field. This first season chaser was last seen lining up in the King George VI at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, where he only got as far as the third when unseating Henry Brooke, but he’s suited by flattish tracks so can make amends here. Richard Hobson’s Some Scope and Harry Fry’s Hymac should both get involved, while course winner Weveallbeencaught completes the shortlist. With top-weighted Twig giving 5lbs to White Rhino, Henry Brooke will just need a clear round of fencing to be right in the mix at the sharp end.

Navan

Flyingbolt Novice Chase (Grade 3) 3.20
Champ Kiely
Willie Mullins Champ Kiely wasted no time in getting off the mark over fences when scoring at Fairyhouse, and sets the standard in this field. With Gordon Elliott’s What’s Up Darling yet to convince over fences, Gearoid O’Loughlin’s Jeannot Lapin looks the likely danger, but Champ Kiely has taken a while to start his chase campaign, but is so lightly raced after just the ten starts under rules, there’s surely more to come. Paul Townend is in the chair, and Champ Kiely is the one to beat.

BoyleSports Webster Cup Chase (Grade 2) 3.50
El Fabiolo
In a race that’s going to be dominated by the Willie Mullins pair of El Fabiolo and Grangeclare West, the former has to be first on the list with Paul Townend aboard. That said, El Fabiolo needs to get a clear round of fencing in to assure victory over his stablemate, while Grangeclare West moved up in the pecking order in the Closutton yard, when a fine four and three quarter lengths second to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. El Fabiolo is prone to the odd error over fences, so that’s the gamble, but given a faultless round, hard to oppose.

The Mandarin