The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 29th November 2025

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Newbury Park, Newcastle & Fairyhouse

Newbury Park

Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 11.55
La Conquiere
I think it’s a safe enough play to go with Jamie Snowden’s La Conquiere for the opener here at Newbury Park. She showed plenty of toe to het her head in front in a Maiden at Uttoxeter last month, and assuming she’ll act on this soft ground, there’s every chance of picking up some Black Type. David Pipe’s Kingston Queen and Alan King’s Charisma Cat have both been prominent in the betting, and one of these three should be getting her nose in front.

Coral Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase 12.30
Booster Bob
Olly Murphy’s Booster Bob won the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase here back in March, and maybe he can go in again returned to Newbury. The soft ground will be fine, and Sean Bowen gets the leg up once again, so plenty of boxes ticked for me with the trainer in fine form, and with Joe Tizzard’s Scarface running under a penalty, it could be that Venetia Williams’ Hunter Legend proves the danger. Booster Bob goes well fresh so gets the big tick from me.

Coral “Daily Rewards Shaker” Novices’ Hurdle 1.05
Kiwi Rush
I reckon that Kiwi Rush has the strongest for to bring to the table here, so I’ll take Harry Derham’s Mahler gelding for the win. The deep ground won’t be holding any fears, and a recent wind op may have brought about some improvement, so getting weight from Ben Pauling’s Kalkbrenner can make all the difference. Philip Fenton’s Buddy Holly has joined Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard, so makes my list, while Paul Nicholls has a fine recent record in this race so Grand Garcon must be worth a market check. On balance, I think that Kiwi Rush looks the most solid proposition, so gets my vote.

“Join Coral Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Hurdle 1.40
French Ship
I really like the way that Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s French Ship goes about his business. Looking back to last season, French Ship was fourth to none other than The New Lion in a Novices’ Hurdle here, with Electric Mason one place in front, so this is looking like well franked form to me. Now, Harry Cobden takes up the reins, so this notable booking just adds to the case for, and his last win going away up Cheltenham’s stiff finish tells me French Ship won’t lack for stamina on this softer ground upped in class. Ben Pauling is going great guns at the moment, so Personal Ambition might be the best of the rest, but French Ship is the one to beat, despite a hike in the weights.

Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Gerry Feilden) (Premier Handicap) 2.15
Live Conti
I’m going to take a chance on Dan Skelton’s Live Conti for the Gerry Feilden. Despite having to shoulder top weight on his handicap debut, he was last seen a 6 length second to Willie Mullins’ Murcia in the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree back in April, but Dan Skelton seems to have his yard in red-hot form, firing in winners all over the place, so with Tristan Durrell’s 3lb claim a handy offset, I’m expecting a big run from Live Conti. That said, Gary & Josh Moore’s Give It To Me Oj justified favouritism when scoring at Cheltenham last month, while Olly Murphy’s Indeevar Bleu, Emma Lavelle’s Indemnity and Harry Derham’s Viyanni have all been well backed this week, so it does look a really competitive race, but I’ll stick with current form and Dan Skelton’s Live Conti.

Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.55
Resplendent Grey
Back to the scene of one of my early big successes, in 1982 with Bregawn, I’ll take my chance on Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey for the Hennessey, as it was then. This winner of the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park in April won’t be lacking for stamina, and showed he’s ready to roll when scoring on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle, giving a beating to Ben Pauling’s well fancied Handstands. Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man gets cheekpieces this time, and did go well for a long way when second in the Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase at Ascot last time out, but might be needing better ground, so the well weighted Katate Dori is primed to run a huge race. Resplendent Grey has the quality, Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack cannot be ruled out with the yard in such great form, while Willie Mullins runs four of whom Blizzard Of Oz rates the big danger. A terrific renewal in store, but I’m wagering that Resplendent Grey won’t be far away, with Katate Dori my each way angle.

Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” Payouts Handicap Chase 3.35
Rath Gaul Hill (nb)
Horses for courses here, as Rath Gaul Hill tries to make it three from three over course and distance for Sam Drinkwater. Last seen in a midfield position in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, probably wanting a stronger pace set, he gets his ground here, where there’s likely to be far more pace in this race, but with plenty of rain about, it will become a true test of stamina when push comes to shove. Emma Lavelle’s General Medrano has been laid out for this race after winning last year, but Rath Gaul Hill will relish these conditions and must be thereabouts.

Newcastle

BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) 2.00
The New Lion (nap)
Well, as Len Goodman used to say on Strictly Come Dancing, pickle me walnuts! What an absolute belter of a renewal is this Fighting Fifth? Can Constitutional Hill, the former messianic prodigy return as Champion Hurdler? Is Dan Skelton’s The New Lion, the unbeaten winner of the Challow Hurdle pacey enough to drop back to this two mile one trip? And how good is Willie Mullins’ Anzadam, also unbeaten and wearing some pretty splendidly successful silks! Not to mention Golden Ace, the winner of the Champion Hurdle not so very long ago! Well, Nicky Henderson has it all to prove, that he’s got Constitution Hill back to his very, very best? If he has, he wins, but I’m going to stick my neck out and say that he’ll never be quite the same again, and maybe in some ordinary times, that would still be enough, even for this famous Grade One. But, but, but, in the pair of the unbeaten Anzadam and The New Lion, we are looking at the future of the two mile hurdling division, along with Anzadam’s stablemate, Lossiemouth, and if these four are going to be back at Cheltenham in March for the Champion Hurdle, I cannot see Constitution Hill at the top of that pile. So, despite the drop in trip, it is The New Lion that tickles my fancy for the Fighting Fifth, but whichever way it goes, what a race we have got!

BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.15
Deafening Silence
Well, later on Newcastle’s card, it will be anything but a deafening silence if The New Lion has won the Fighting Fifth, as I think he will, and Harry doubles up on the day here. He goes well fresh, and the way that the Lodge Hill Stables yard have been firing in the winners, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just one more they are going to notch up in what has been a remarkable recent run. Sue Smith’s Konfusion put an unlucky Danny McMenamin out of the side door last week at Haydock Park, but makes a quick return and makes my shortlist, while Anthony Honeyball’s Jasmin De Grugy is unexposed and may have more to offer. Deafening Silence to raise a huge roar in Newcastle!

Fairyhouse

EASYFIX Equine Handicap Chase (Listed) 12.44
Mirazur West
I do like the appeal Of Mirazur West for this Listed contest. He is a course winner, in a Grade 2 hurdle last year, and maybe he can make it three from three here at Fairyhouse. I would guess there would be plenty of support for Paul Nolan’s Ifiwerearichman, and Gavin Cromwell’s course and distance winner, Midnight It Is, but I’ll stick with Willie Mullins’ Mirazur West as he cranks his big operation up through the gears!

Jack McInerney Memorial Hurdle (Grade 3) 1.19
Murcia
The winner of the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree back in April, I do reckon that Willie Mullins’ Murcia is the one to beat for this Grade 3. She’s got to give a bit of weight away for that Grade One win, but the going here should be fine and although the last day she was only fourth in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, it was behind the likes of Lulamba, Cheltenham scorer Poniros and Hello Neighbour. They were all classy enough, so this looks easier, and I’ll be betting that Murcia lands this.

The Mandarin