The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 10th March 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sha Tin, Naas & Limerick

Sha Tin

Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (Group 1) 08.05
California Spangle (nap)
A terrific race in store as Lucky Sweynesse goes to post against California Spangle in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup. Lucky Sweynesse has become Hong Kong’s premier sprinter over the last couple of seasons, while California Spangle finally confirmed his talent over 8 furlongs, beating the brilliant Golden Sixty in the Hong Kong Mile in December 2022. Now they meet at this intermediate distance of 7 furlongs, and California Spangle has the race at his mercy drawn in Stall 3. With Lucky Sweynesse out wide in Stall 8, it will be a frantic race for track position down the back straight. California Spangle to control things from the front and run the finish out of Lucky Sweynesse, with Lucky With You and Beauty Joy to pick up the pieces

Naas

Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Overnight Prices’ Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 1.42
Fun Fun Fun
Willie Mullins holds the strongest hand for this Grade 3 contest, with Fun Fun Fun and Mirazur West both going to post. The ready preference is for the mare, Fun Fun Fun, who continues to progress her novice hurdling campaign this season with a win in a Listed contest at Exeter last month. By contrast, Mirazur West lines up here with a win in a Maiden at Fairyhouse in the bag, but clearly has more on his plate here. Fun Fun Fun gets the mares’ allowance, and on this ground that should be enough to make the difference, with Gordon Elliott’s Undeniable Alibi completing the picture

Bar One Racing ‘Extra Places At Cheltenham’ Directors Plate Novice Chase (Grade 3) 4.02
Tactical Move (nb)
Just the four runners, but this should go to Tactical Move, at a pretty skinny price. This Stowaway gelding was not seen for over three years after winning a Bumper at Clonmel in 2019, but showed all the talent remained when scoring in a hurdle at Punchestown last year, and although no match for stablemate Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse in January, took the notable scalp of Saint Felicien at Gowran Park next time out. Flanking Maneuver may give Tactical Move the most bother, but he’s so lightly raced, there’s surely more to come so gets the vote

Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase (Listed) 4.37
Minella Cocooner
The chance is taken on Minella Cocooner for the Leinster National. This Flemensfirth gelding beat Senior Chief at Navan in January, form that has since been franked with that rival scoring next time out, so having featured in a Grade 2 race back at Navan last month, the drop into handicap company should make life a tad easier. Paul Townend takes the ride, so Minella Cocooner is likely the stable first string, with excellent claims

Limerick

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 2.35
A Penny A Hundred
This should be a showdown between Gavin Cromwell’s Bioluminescence and Willie Mullins’s A Penny A Hundred. Both have valid claims to land this Grade 3 prize, but A Penny A Hundred looks to have the stronger form after following home the smart prospect Jade De Grugy at Fairyhouse in January

The Mandarin