The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 2nd November 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Wetherby, Ascot & Down Royal

Wetherby

bet365 Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) 1.50
Sweet Fantasy
The chance is taken on James Owens’ Sweet Fantasy to upset Luccia in this Listed contest. Nicky Henderson’s charge will go to post an odds-on favourite, but she’s not been seen since April, and found one too good in this race last year when Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well beat her by 3 lengths. Sweet Fantasy lines up here after a couple of recent spins on the flat, and her trainer is flying high with his National Hunt string. The Skelton team are in good form too, but Take No Chances might find this on the sharp side, so Sweet Fantasy gets the nudge.

bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.22
Kateira
Dan Skelton can take this Grade 2 Hurdle with Kateira, who as the only mare lining up gets weight all round. Although she didn’t put in a overly impressive performance on her return to action here last year, that is the only time she has not won first time out, and with good ground in her favour should be the one to fear. Irish raiders Beacon Edge and Sandor Clegane rate the main dangers, while Olly Murphy’s Thunder Rock also goes well fresh and completes the shortlist. The Skelton team have been going great guns so far this season, so if Kateira sees out this trip she can give a beating to the boys.

bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) 2.58
Brave mans game (nb)
The feature can go to Bravemansgame, who won this in 2022, and went on to show that he’s one right out of the top drawer when taking the King George VI at Kempton on Boxing Day. With Grey Dawning being pulled out of contention, it’s hard to oppose Bravemansgame to regain the title, with conditions to to suit and a good record fresh. Although he went through last season without a win, if he’s back to his best there is no better fencer in the National Hunt division, and that pinpoint accuracy over the fences is his strength, and Wetherby’s flat track sees Bravemansgame at his very best. French Dynamite lines up fresh from a win at Punchestown last month so has to enter calculations, while Conflated can be classy on his day but hasn’t won for a while. Bravemansgame to return an improved model after a winned op and regain the Charlie Hall.

Ascot

Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.05
Matterhorn
The prolific Matterhorn was bidding for a five-timer when making a costly early error at Newton Abbot last time out, with Nico de Boinville pulling him up later in the race. Before that, he’d been winning for fun through the summer, so with good ground forecast, can resume progress. There’ll be plenty of support for top-weight Master Chewy from Nigel Twiston-Davies in-form yard, while Irish raider Uncle Phil represents last year’s Champion Trainer Willie Mullis, and looks a super each-way angle. Chance taken on Matterhorn to get back to winning ways.

Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.45
Chianti Classico
It could pay to side with Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico for this Premier Handicap. He won a Novice Chase here at Ascot over course and distance last November, though admittedly beating only two rivals in that field of three, but in March won the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and put in a good effort in the Mildmay at Aintree. He goes well fresh, and can handle all types of ground, so should have enough in the locker to defy top-weight, chiefly at the expense of Tom Lacey’s improving Highstakesplayer.

Down Royal

Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) 2.40
Gerri Colombe (nb)
Gordon Elliott’s brilliant chaser won this last year, though almost handed the race to Envoi Allen with a mistake at the third. It took him the rest of the race to catch Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen, just nicking it in the dying strides, but after hitting the bar in the Savills Chase and the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, finally got more Grade 1 glory in the Bowl Chase at Aintree. This is Envoi Allen’s first run of this season, so might need to blow out some cobwebs, whereas Gerri Colombe does go well fresh, so Kempton’s King George VI winner, Hewick might be the main danger. Shark Hanlon’s bargain buy did look in need of the run at Punchestown, in a race won by French Dynamite, but Gerri Colombe is the class act here and hard to oppose.

Bottlegreen Ladies Day 2024 Chase (Grade 2) 3.20
Found A Fifty (nap)
Found A Fifty was a revelation last year went sent novice chasing, getting Grade One honours in the Racing Post Chase at Leopardstown and the Maghull at Aintree. He promised plenty for Gordon Elliott when hurdling without putting a good run together, but over the fences really came into his own. Out into open company now, but fancied to take that in his stride in what doesn’t look a strong race for the grade. Found A Fifty to carry on where he left off last season and win this.

The Mandarin