The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 16th February 2025

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Punchestown

Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase 2.10
Springt De La Mare
Gavin Cromwell is confident that Springt De La Mare can progress to take this Rated Novice Chase on just his second start over fences. Winning well in a Fairyhouse Beginners Chase the last day, Keith Donoghue didn’t have him all out to win by a length and three quarters from Henry de Bromhead’s favourite, Theatre Native. He’s entitled to move on from that run, and is kept at the two mile trip for now, but will have to keep tabs on Paul Nolan’s Release The Beast and Willie Mullins’s Rath Gaul Boy. Springt De La Mare to go close.

QuinnBet Beginners Chase 2.40
High Class Hero (nap)
High Class Hero was decent enough over timber, finishing a half-length second to stablemate Dancing City in a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival. Like Dancing City, this is another Closutton inmate that looks to have a future over fences, and he made a solid start when runner-up to the useful looking Shannon Royale back here on New Year’s Eve. Entitled to come on for that first outing, with stablemate Loughglynn and Gavin Cromwell’s Mint Boy completing the shortlist. High Class Hero to go in at the second time of asking.

QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Listed) 3.10
Will Do
Gordon Elliott’s Will Do looks well weighted to take this Grand National Trial, and as the choice of Sam Ewing is taken to be the stable first string. There’s plenty of re-opposing rivals from the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park, where Velvet Elvis came out on top of those lining up today, finishing just over 2 lengths behind Nick Rockett for the runners-up spot, while Will Do’s stablemate Favori De Champdou finished a fine third. Spanish Harlem, Macs Charm & Klarc Kent filled the places behind Will Do, but this Walk In The Park gelding is unexposed over this trip and could be worth following. Velvet Elvis has been backed in this week, but from top weight he’s giving Will Do over a stone and a half, which could be telling.

Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle (Listed) 3.40
C’est Ta Chance (nb)
A good contest for the grade with Barry Connell’s William Munny going to post as the odds on favourite, but a gamble is taken on C’est Ta Chance. With Henry de Bromhead’s Taponthego also in the mix there’s likely to be plenty of pace on for this Listed race. Willie Mullins’s C’est Ta Chance was down the field in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last year, but shed the maiden tag straight away over timber, and followed that up with a solid second, ahead of Taponthego in a Rated Novice Hurdle at Navan the last day. These are the three main protagonists, but C’est Ta Chance gets our vote.

Kilkea Castle Hotel & Golf Resort Maiden Hurdle 4.10
Dr Eggman
Dr Eggman hasn’t been seen since finishing third at Perth in April of last year, but with the Closutton string warming up nicely in time for Cheltenham, he’s the one to beat here. In a race that doesn’t look like it will take a lot of winning, Dr Eggman is preferred to stablemate Last Kingdom and the Gordon Elliott pair of Hello Jack and Amber Point, though it’s taken on trust that the selection is fully tuned up after nine months off. Dr Eggman to score for Willie Mullins.

The Mandarin