The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 7th December 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Sandown Park, Aintree & Navan

Sandown Park

Betfair Exchange Claremont Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 12.08
Honky Tonk Highway
It could pay to side with Dan Skelton’s Honky Tonk Highway for Sandown’s opener, who wouldn’t have to improve much from her Warwick run to land this. Just finding the trip too far last time out, going down by a length and a half to a smart looking one from Nicky Henderson’s in-form yard, this drop back to the bare minimum should be just the ticket. Venetia Williams has her string in fine fettle, so will be looking for an adrenaline rush with her French recruit, Epinephrine, and these are the two to keep on side.

Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1.50
Down Memory Lane (nb)
A fascinating clash in store between Gordon Elliott’s Down Memory Lane and Dan Skelton’s L’eau Du Sud. Both line up here with winning form, L’eau Du Sud scoring at Cheltenham’s Autumn Festival in some style, while Down Memory Lane made all in a Beginners Chase at Navan last month, with an impressive round of fencing. Gordon Elliott is double-handed with Touch Me Not also going to post, but Down Memory Lane is taken to cope with the conditions better here, so gets the nudge.

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) 3.00
Jonbon
The race that’s all about Jonbon, who is taken to defend his crown in the feature. Nicky Henderson has followed the same route as last year, with a win in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham to get this campaign under way, before a crack at one of the big Grade One prizes here. The ever present Edwardstone lines up against his nemesis once more, and won’t be minding ground this deep, but the main challenge is likely to come from Henry de Bromhead’s Quilixios, who saw off the highly rated Marine Nationale in the Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas last month. Jonbon, a full brother to the brilliant Douvan, is 10 from 12 over fences, and very hard to oppose to score again, at a price to match.

Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase 3.35
Tommie Beau
Top-weight Tommie Beau looked as good as ever at Cheltenham in the Cross Country Chase until taking a wrong turn, but can make amends here. Having never fallen in 27 starts over fences, he’ll be well fancied to put in another clear round, and this hard as teak gelding will still be going when plenty of others have thrown in the towel over this marathon trip. Further down the weights, Broken Halo looks a likely type, but fell two out last year when going well, so granted a clean round of fencing has to enter the reckoning, while Venetia Williams’s Montgomery is another to note, unexposed at this trip. This completes the shortlist, with Tommie Beau getting the vote.

Aintree

BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.07
King Turgeon
King Turgeon put in a super round to land the Grand Sefton over these fences last month, and might still be ahead of the Handicapper despite the penalty. There’s been plenty of money down this week for Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico, who progressed into a smart chaser last season and returned in fine style at Ascot this term, making all in an impressive return to action. That said, Chianti Classico has to shoulder top-weight, so in these conditions could be vulnerable to King Turgeon and Grand Sefton third, Gaboriot, while Jonjo O’Neill’s Iron Bridge will relish these conditions and can also make the frame. King Turgeon to outfence the others and take the Bechers.

BoyleSports Acca Boost Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) 2.42
Static
Just a neck between the selection and Liam Swagger when they raced at Wetherby five weeks back, but conditions this time might favour Static. This French recruit is now in receipt of 2lbs from the jolly, and that should be enough to turn the tables on Liam Swagger. Static to exact revenge on Liam Swagger in a good duel.

Navan

Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.07
The Yellow Clay (nap)
Hat-trick seeking The Yellow Clay is hard to oppose for this Grade 2 Novice Hurdle, after his course and distance win here three weeks back. The re-opposing third, Fleur In The Park was a good 12 lengths behind, and it’s hard to see a reverse of those placings despite The Yellow Clay giving weight all round. Declan Queally’s Mozzies Sister rates the main danger who should appreciate this step up in trip, while Willie Mullins sends out My Great Mate who also makes the shortlist. The Yellow Clay looks a smart prospect, and can nail the hat-trick for the in-form Cullentra yard.

Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 1.42
Paggane
This Listed contest can go to Paggane, who has been going all year but gets her ground at Navan. Lining up in the Joe Donnelly silks, she was 2 lengths adrift of the re-opposing Oscars Brother at Cork last month, but now goes to post on 4lb better terms. Irish Grand National winner, Intense Raffles marks his return to action over timber, but this is surely a warm-up for some bigger dates over the season. Royal Paggane has hit the bar in her last three outings, and deserves a bit of luck at last, so gets the nudge.

Timeless Sash Windows Foxrock Handicap Chase (Listed) 2.17
Sa Fureur
Gordon Elliott’s Sa Fureur should be right on the money for this Listed Handicap Chase, having had a good run over timber here three weeks ago to sharpen him up. He remains unexposed over fences, with just the four starts so far in the book, finishing a fine fourth in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring. Conditions to suit, and very much the one to beat for Gordon Elliott.

The Mandarin