The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections for 9th November 2024

The Mandarin’s Saturday Selections from Wincanton, Aintree & Doncaster

Wincanton

Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2.23
Insurrection
Quite the topical name for this Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase, with Donald Trump taking the American election this week, so Insurrection is the one to follow here. This Getaway gelding wouldn’t have to improve much from a close second in a Listed race at Chepstow to take this, where he had the re-opposing BoomBawn a short head behind in third. The in-form Spigot Lodge yard of Karl Burke has had a fine summer on the flat, so Soul Icon rates a danger alongside Boombawn, but Insurrection edges it.

BetMGM Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.55
Rubaud
Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden can double up on the day in the Black Type contests with Rubaud, who lines up here fresh from a win at Kempton last month. It’s a path this Air Chief Marshal gelding followed last year, winning that Listed contest before landing this Grade 2 with an impressive run, and the good ground here is just the ticket for a repeat performance. Harry Derham’s Brentford Hope is building up an excellent form book over timber, with five wins and five runners up spots from his twelve starts, so rates the obvious danger, and this Grade 2 race should be between these two, with Henry de Bromhead’s Aspire Tower given a big ask lining up here.

63rd Badger Beer Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.30
Lord Accord
Not much to choose between the two principals in the market, Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man and Neil Mulholland’s Lord Accord. The preference is for Lord Accord, who won over course and distance last month, and despite the 5lb penalty for that win can go in again, while The Changing Man is making his seasonal reappearance though does go well fresh. David Pipe’s Remastered is entering the veteran stage of his career now, but showed some of the old sparkle when scoring here two weekends back, and this completes the shortlist. Lord Accord to serve up more of the same and take this valuable pot.

Aintree

BoyleSports Daily Money Back Meetings EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle 12.20
Mr Meggit
The opener on Aintree’s Saturday card can go to Mr Meggit, lining up in the familiar Trevor Hemmings green and gold quartered silks. Especially impressive in his two bumpers last season, winning at Carlisle and Doncaster by an aggregate 16 lengths, his first foray into graded company here last April at the Grand National meeting didn’t go to plan when stumbling 4 furlongs out. However, Mr Meggit is highly rated, and sure to go off at a pretty short price on his hurdling bow, with Malicash, Ben Solo and smart prospect Glynn Brae looking the main dangers. Mr Meggit to confirm his promise now sent over timber, with Glynn Brae keeping him honest.

BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 12.55
Haiti Couleurs
Rebecca Curtis can take this Novices’ Hurdle with Haiti Couleurs, who can be expected to come on for his first run over fences at Chepstow. The fencing left a little to be desired, with some hesitancy when getting in close to the take-off point, but overall it was a decent introduction to the bigger obstacles and there’s surely improvement to come. Top jockey Sean Bowen takes up the reins and there’s just four in the field, so expect Haiti Couleurs to break the maiden tag over fences.

BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase 2.40
Latenightpass (nb)
Latenightpass can score in the Grand Sefton for Tom Ellis, in a campaign where’s he’s aimed for another tilt at the Grand National next April. With plenty of experience over these unique fences, he just lacked for stamina in this year’s Aintree showpiece, but back at this trip and on better ground has to be in with a mighty chance in the Grand Sefton. Asides of the Grand National, Latenightpass has an excellent record at Aintree, winning the Foxhunters Chase in 2022 after a fine second in the same race in 2021, before a solid fourth in 2023. Venetia Williams sends out Frero Banbou, who gets lumps of weight from Latenightpass, but he might just want deeper ground to be seen at his best, while Olly Murphy’s prolific scorer Sure Touch makes the each-way angle. Latenightpass to prevail on a course he saves his best for.

Doncaster

Livescore Bet Wentworth Stakes (Listed) 1.20
Zoum Zoum (nap)
This Listed contest can go to Ralph Beckett’s Zoum Zoum, who showed enough winning over course and distance here two weeks ago to get the nudge. Back to soft going when taking that Class 2 Handicap from John Ryan’s The X O, Zoum Zoum wouldn’t have to improve much to put some Black Type in the form book here. Kevin Ryan’s Room Service won a decent Sales race here last season on soft ground over 7 furlongs, so has to be noted, while Roger Varian’s Russet Gold completes the shortlist. Zoum Zoum to zoom in on the win.

Virgin Bet Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 3.10
Danielle
The second of the Listed races can go to Danielle. John & Thady Gosdens’ Cracksman filly showed her preference for ground with plenty of cut in it when runner-up to Max Vega in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury last time out, so conditions should be ideal here, and eased slightly in grade she should be right on the money. Both Charlie Appleby’s Diamond Rain and David O’Meara’s Estrange have chances, while Ralph Beckett’s Treasure has form on heavy ground, so these four are all expected to be there at the business end of things, but Danielle looks the one to keep on side.

The Mandarin