The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 22nd March 2025

The Mandarin’s Newbury Park Racecard for Saturday 22nd March

Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 2.05
Glynn Brae
The opener can go to Nigel Twiston-Davies with Glynn Brae, despite having to shoulder top weight on his handicap bow. He has won a couple of Class 4 contests at Fontwell this year, both on soft ground, so the overnight rain shouldn’t affect his chance of making a winning start in a handicap to bring up the hat-trick. Harry Derham has got his yard back into a bit of form, so Norn Iron has had a bit of backing this week, while Joe Tizzard’s Alexei also shoulders top weight, but can make the frame. Glynn Brae looks the one to follow, with Sam Twiston-Davies up top to bring him home.

BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase 2.40
Saint Segal
This Handicap Chase can go the way of Saint Segal, whose course form around here looks pretty solid. The winning run was in a Class 3 Handicap, so this is tougher, but a fine third in the Greatwood Gold Cup over course and distance is a notable piece of form to take into this Class 2. Harry Derham’s Imagine came out of Gordon Elliott’s yard for a princely sum, but has yet to regain the form that saw him win a Grade 2 at Punchestown last season, but remains with potential, while Jonjo & AJ O’Neill’s Bob Bob Ricard is right down the weights here, but can have a say. Saint Segal to score, swimming in calmer waters that the Greatwood.

BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 3.15
Jasmine Bliss
One going the right way for Harry Derham, as evidenced by her wins at Ludow and Southwell this year. She beat the re-opposing La Pinsonniere by 11 lengths in that last win, though La Pinsonniere gets a 7lb pull this time around, so this should be closer. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ I Am The Moon was in the same race, and she gets an even better chance at these weights, but Jasmine Bliss won pretty easily and there’s surely more to come. The one to beat.

John Haine Memorial Novices’ Hurdle 3.50
Don’t Mind If I Do
This looks to be a straight showdown between Alan King’s Don’t Mind If I Do and Fergal O’Brien’s John Barbour. The preference is for Don’t Mind If I Do, who won’t mind any extra cut in the ground after the overnight rain, so he’s forgiven a poor showing last time out at Wincanton, when turned over at short odds-on, being a bit lit up early on. John Barbour looks useful, but does need to improve on his hurdling, while Toby Lawes recent Southwell scorer I Play County completes the shortlist. Don’t Mind If I Do to go in.

Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper (Open National Hunt Flat Race) 4.25
At The Oche
James Turner had a bit of a job on his hands with At The Oche on his debut under rules, as the Ocovango gelding ran in snatches and showed plenty of inexperience. However, he’s entitled to come on for that run, and Sam Twiston-Davies takes up the reins, with the job of keeping At The Oche in a straight line. Plenty of debutantes here, with Ben Pauling’s My Fortune worth a second look, and Anthony Honeyball’s Hard Stare also considered. At The Oche to settle better, and land this valuable pot.

Business Colleagues & Friends Handicap Chase 5.00
Javert Allen (nap)
It’s hard to get away from the appeal of Javert Allen for this Handicap Chase. Pin sharp in his fencing, he was unlucky to have been collared late on by Dr T J Eckleburg last time out at Chepstow, when looking to make it three from three since being switched to chasing, but he was made plenty of use of early on, and only went down by a short-head through the line. Jane Williams will be hoping that Javert Allen gets back on the winning trail here, and serve it up to last week’s Kempton scorer Teddy Blue. Javert Allen’s jumping is his strong point, so he can put it all together, and win for the second time here at Newbury Park.

BetVictor A Run For Your Money Handicap Chase 5.35
King’s Threshold (nb)
The last race can go to Emma Lavelle’s King’s Threshold, who looks to make it a hat-trick of wins in 2025. A wind op back in January seems to have eked out some improvement in this Yeats gelding, so with conditions looking just the ticket, and Ben Jones back in the saddle, all the boxes are ticked for another big run. Joe Tizzard’s Rivers Corner, and course and distance winner, Neon Moon rate the main dangers, but King’s Threshold gets the nudge for the hat-trick.

The Mandarin