The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 15th December 2024

The Mandarin’s Windsor Racecard for Sunday 15th December

Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back @ Royal Windsor EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle 12.12
Excello
It should pay to side with Nicky Henderson’s Excello for the opener on Windsor’s National Hunt card. Though better known as a chaser, he remains a maiden over timber so gets to run in novice company. That should probably prove too much for his three rivals here, with Emma Lavelle’s Ma Shantou the obvious threat. A trappy start with just the four, but Excello gets a big pull in the weights from Ma Shantou, so gets the vote.

Fitzdares Royal Windsor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 12.45
Tedley (nap)
Another small field as Windsor eases itself back into National Hunt racing, but Tedley is the one to keep on side here. The markets this week have seen plenty of support for Alan King’s Helnwein, but this Walk In The Park gelding did tire late on at Warwick on his chasing bow, so Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Tedley is the one that appeals. Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch have been in a good vein of form, so The Famous Five has to be considered, but Tedley gets the tick.

Fitzdares Royal Windsor Racecourse Maiden Hurdle 1.20
Flimsy Nosebag
The whimsically named Flimsy Nosebag is given a chance to land this Maiden Hurdle. He has at least featured in a couple of decent races at Ascot this term, so with that experience under his belt should at least be competitive in a wide open race. Nicky Henderson’s French import, La Pinsonniere might rate a threat, along with Jamie Snowden’s Realistic Optimism, but Flimsy Nosebag it is.

Fitzdares Thames Handicap Chase 1.55
Tanganyika (nb)
With Venetia Williams in such fine form, it’s hard to get away from the appeal of Tanganyika for this Handicap Chase. A staying on fifth in his first try over fences, there’ every chance he’ll come on for that run for this in-form yard, with questions to be asked about plenty of his rivals here. Dan Skelton has his string in fine fettle, so Jeffery’s Cross is noted, but Tanganyika looks to have more in this discipline.

Fitzdares Windsor Castle Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 2.30
Saisissante
Noel Williams’s Saisissante put in a good shift in a Listed contest at Newbury last December, and went well for a long way on her return to action last month. She’s entitled to come on for that run, and with the ground maybe a bit less sapping here, should be right in the mix. Jimmy Frost’s Asian Spice rates the danger after a decent win at Exeter last time out, so these are the two to note.

Fitzdares Telephone Betting Handicap Chase 3.05
Dulhallow Tommy
This looks a pretty wide open Handicap Chase, but the gamble is taken on Toby Lawes Dulhallow Tommy. He put in a decent enough shift after a summer break when a 3 length third of four at Fontwell back in October, and can be expected to come on for that return to racing. Both Chis Gordon’s Alto Alto and Dan Skelton’s Reilly enter calculations, but Dulhallow Tommy edges the vote.

The Fitzdares Windsor Christmas Handicap Hurdle 3.40
Onewaywest
Arguments to be made for a few of these, but Onewaywest looks as good a pick as any. Tony Carroll’s Douglas Dc is a bit of a nearly man over timber, while Ben Brookhouse’s Blue Hop remains unexposed over hurdles and Nicky Henderson’s Old Time Chaser still has something to prove in this sphere. It won’t take a lot to win this, but our stake’s going on Onewaywest for Ben Pauling’s re-invigorated yard.

The Mandarin