The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 19th January 2025

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sha Tin, Thurles & Windsor

Sha Tin

Centenary Sprint Cup (Group 1) 07.00
Ka Ying Rising
The undoubted new star of sprinting in Hong Kong, David Hayes will be looking for Ka Ying Rising to make it nine in a row. Only half a length in front of the re-opposing Helios Express, in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December, doesn’t really show how easy that win was in reality, but the main threat may come from the fast finishing Howdeepisyourlove, who lines up here on the back of a win in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, on his first try over 5 furlongs. Zac Purton is in the chair, and this is one horse worth getting up early for. Hard to oppose.

Stewards’ Cup (Group 1) 08.05
Voyage Bubble
We gave him for the Hong Kong Mile back in December, and he didn’t disappoint, getting the better of the fancied Japanese raider, Soul Rush. With California Spangle not looking the force of old, though the return to the mile might be in his favour, it could be Galaxy Patch that gives Voyage Bubble the most to think about. This pair are drawn next to each other in Stalls 3 & 4, so expect plenty of pace from the off, with Voyage Bubble continuing to cement his place as Hong Kong’s best miler.

Thurles

W.T. O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle 12.55
Sporting Glory (nb)
Sporting Glory wasted no time in getting off the mark after the move to Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra base, winning with a bit in hand at Galway. He’s had a break since that run in October, but this looks a nice warm up for whichever of the Grade One races he will go for at the Dublin Racing Festival in a fortnight’s time. The win in that Maiden Hurdle the last day showed there’s more to come, and with some better ground has to be the one to follow. Paul Townend takes the reins on Inn At The Park, suggesting he’s the pick of the Closutton pair, but Sporting Glory gets our vote.

Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.30
Only By Night (nap)
Gavin Cromwell’s Only By Night looks one out of the top drawer, and can make it a hat-trick here if seeing out this trip. She’s been kept to around the two mile mark for all but one of her nine starts under rules, but did win a Lingstown Point over three, so every chance she will get this trip. A repeat of her run in the Mares Novice she ran at Cork the last day should put her spot on for this Grade 2, but the re-opposing Nara is 5lbs better off at the weights this time, so is entitled to get closer. Spindleberry won on her first try over fences, and completes the list of dangers, but Only By Night is easy to back.

Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2) 2.05
Fil Dor
This is a cracker for the grade, but we’ll stick with Gordon Elliott’s Fil Dor, who could’t stay with Henry de Bromhead’s Jungle Boogie at Ascot, but can take this en route to the Ryanair at Cheltenham. There’s a whole squad lining up for Willie Mullins, with Kilcruit, Classic Getaway, Appreciate It and Blood Destiny, with the last of these the pick of Paul Townend, but Fil Dor has returned a better model this term, so gets the nudge to add to the two wins over fences. Blood Destiny has topped the markets this week, but needs to show he’s back to his best after a long break, so Classic Getaway may prove to be Fil Dor’s main rival.

Windsor

Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 12.10
Jingko Blue
Nicky Henderson holds the ace in the pack as National Hunt Graded action returns to Windsor this season. Forgiven for his poor effort at the Cheltenham Festival when the Seven Barrows yard was altogether in poor form, this Great Pretender gelding made no mistake on his first try over fences, putting almost 10 lengths of daylight between himself and the field. Quite probably more to come, and with Nicky Henderson firing in the winners, hard to oppose in the field of just the three.

The Mandarin