The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 10th November 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sandown Park & Naas

Sandown Park

My Pension Expert Handicap Chase 1.05
Belgarum
It could pay to side with Joe Tizzard’s Belgarum for this Handicap Chase. With just the six lining up, it’s going to be a tactical affair, with recent Huntingdon scorer El Rio sure to be pretty close to the lead. However, both Belgarum and Abingworth are going to be keeping tabs on El Rio, and if Belgarum can repeat his September run at Plumpton then he’s got every chance dropped back in trip from his last outing at Chepstow. These are the three in the mix, with Belgarum getting the vote for the in-form Joe Tizzard yard.

Boodles Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2.15
Jeriko Du Reponet
Impossible to back at these prices, but it’s going to be a fascinating start for Nicky Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet over fences. Unbeaten over timber until turning up for the Supreme Novices’ at the Cheltenham Festival, when the Seven Barrows yard was under a dark cloud, but it’s chasing that is going to be his game and the campaign starts here. If Jeriko Du Reponet doesn’t take to fencing, then Anthoney Honeyball’s Brookie will be there to pick up the pieces at a tempting price.

Sandown Park Veterans’ Handicap Chase 3.25
Copperhead
Joe Tizzard holds the key to this Veterans’ Chase with Copperhead, who’s been winning with plenty in hand this season. That’s been noted by the Handicapper, who has hit him with an 8lb rise, but he had both Good Boy Bobby and Certainly Red behind at Chepstow in October, so carries the bragging rights into this contest. Whether the attentions of the Handicapper is enough to stop him in the seasonal hat-trick bid we will see, but chance taken he’ll win again.

Naas

Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 2.00
Win Some Lose Some (nap)
This looks a straight up fight between Win Some Lose Some and Happy Jacky. Padraig Roche’s Win Some Lose Some has been mostly winning them, scoring three times in five runs this year, and was pretty impressive when coming through late to win at Clonmel last month. Happy Jacky has to give a whopping stone and a half to Win Some Lose Some, partially offset by Peter Smithers’ 7lb claim, but that’s still a big ask.

Barberstown Castle Chase (Grade 3) 2.35
Quilixios
The top class hurdler Marine Nationale makes just his third start over fences, but is on something of a comeback mission after finishing fifth of six in the Irish Arkle in February. That said, the field for that Grade One oozed class, with Il Etait Temps, Found A Fifty, Sharjah and Facile Vega all going to post, but the odds-on Marine Nationale couldn’t land a blow and made a mess of the last. By contrast, Quilixios has course and distance form to his name, and with Henry de Bromhead’s yard in fine form and Darragh O’Keefe up top, easy to back against the jolly.

Mongey Communications Beginners Chase 3.10
Farren Glory (nb)
Farren Glory can take this Beginners Chase, having started this campaign with a solid enough second on his first start over fences at Wexford. Though no match for the winner, Inthepocket, who waltzed home 15 lengths clear, Farren Glory had the third another 9 lengths back, and he can only come on for that run on his seasonal reappearance. He won the Grade 1 Royal Bond over timber in a fine season last year, and is sure to go off a warm order favourite here. Hard to oppose, at a price to match.

The Mandarin