The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 8th November 2025
The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Wincanton & Aintree
Wincanton
Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2.23
Blueking D’oroux
This Grade 2 contest should be going to Paul Nicholls with Blueking D’oroux, though trust me, you’ll get no mercy from the bookies betting on him here. That said, Blueking D’oroux was well fancied to get off to a winning start over fences at Newton Abbot last month, but couldn’t quite reel in Dan Skelton’s Riskintheground, though he should strip fitter for that and have too much class for this field. Anthony Honeyball is the local trainer that must be respected around here, so the prolific Breaking Cover has to be respected, while Irish raider Cobra Queen comes from Henry de Bromhead’s in-form yard, and these two are the pair to make a race of it. Blueking D’oroux to prevail at skinny odds that probably won’t refelct the closeness of this race. Time to bite your nails if your money’s on the selection!
BetMGM Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.55
Rubaud
Our lovely Irish specialist Caroline gave Rubaud for a Listed contest at Kempton Park last month, and it looked a pretty solid bet to me then. Of course, James Owen’s Burdett Road had garnered plenty of support in the ante post markets leading up to the race, but it had been Rubaud’s usual winning seasonal reappearance in the previous two seasons, so it was business as usual to us in the office, and he duly obliged. This time James Owen sends out Hamlet’s Night to try to beat the Paul Nicholls jolly, but that isn’t going to come off unless there’s some terrible error, so Rubaud’s winning this!
64th Badger Beers Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.30
Art Of Diplomacy (nb)
Micky Bowen’s Art Of Diplomacy didn’t seem to know how to lose since winning at Newbury Park in June, with five on the trot over fences. Things came to an end at Chepstow though, when getting in tight to the last and stumbling on landing, but with the ground here at Wincanton staying on the quicker side, I think that the winning run has more mileage. Despite the penalty, Art Of Diplomacy is still relatively unexposed at this level, and on this flat track and good ground, surely makes an easy favourite to back. Paul Nicholls has an enviable record here at Wincanton, averaging over 30%, so Threeunderthrufive must make the shortlist, but Art Of Diplomacy gets the nod with the reverse forecast looking a tempter.
Aintree
William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 1.30
Andy Amo
I have to say that I’ve got a real gut feeling for Rebecca Curtis’s Andy Amo for this Novice’s Handicap Chase. This easy on the eye trainer won this last year with the highly progressive Haiti Couleurs, with Sean Bowen in the hot seat coasting clear by 15 lengths, and with Rebecca Curtis’s string so often improving when sent over fences, this is an easy pick for me. Ben Pauling and Dan Skelton are both trainers to note this term, so Champagne Twist and Hidden History complete my three, but Andy Amo is the one to follow.
William Hill Grand Sefton Handicap Chase 2.40
King Turgeon (nap)
I’m happy to go with last year’s winner King Turgeon for the Grand Sefton. The Spruce topped fences are a very different obstacle in running to the field on this Grand National track, so previous form is a big plus tick for me here, and I can see King Turgeon getting right up to the front of affairs and seeing how the rest of the field cope with the unique demands of this course. That said, he’s on a much higher mark that last year, so could be vulnerable to a less exposed type, which brings White Rhino and Johnnywho into the mix. Sam Thomas is going great guns just now, so Our Power completes my shortlist, but I’ll gamble on King Turgeon to show how it’s done over these fences.
The Mandarin
