The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 19th November 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sha Tin, Navan & Cheltenham

Sha Tin

Bochk Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (Group 2) 07.30
Lucky Sweynesse
Zac Purton will be after revenge when he mounts Lucky Sweynesse on Sunday. The pair succumbed to Sight Success by just a short-head in the Premier Bowl Handicap last month, when Lucky Sweynesse had to concede a stone to the winner. That pull is now down to 5lbs which should be enough for Hong Kong’s top sprinter to get back to winning ways. Hard to oppose, at a price to match

Bochk Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (Group 2) 08.05
California Spangle (nap)
The class act of this race, and surely one day will rule the roost in Hong Kong over the remarkable Golden Sixty, so California Spangle is taken to dominate this Group 2 from the front. He made a mockery of the re-opposing Beauty Eternal lining up as favourite when the pair clashed in the Sha Tin Trophy Handicap, giving that rival 12lbs and still beating him a length into third. That’s down to a 5lb difference now, so California Spangle is the one to beat

Navan

John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 1.20
Croke Park
Gordon Elliott should be getting some Black Type with Croke Park in this Grade 3 contest. He really only had to fend off one rival when joined three out in his winning maiden at Clonmel, coming home 11 lengths to the good on heavy ground. He steps up in trip here, but looks a real prospect for the in-form Cullentra yard. Easy to back

Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2.30
Limerick Lace
The chance is taken on Gavin Cromwell’s Limerick Lace for this three mile contest on testing ground. It is a big step in trip, so a journey into the unknown, but her handicap mark gives her some legroom on this going, and Aidan Kelly’s 5lb claim adds to the appeal. Ante-post favourite Thedevilscoachman is a class act on his day, but hasn’t been seen trackside since pulling up at Fairyhouse in the Irish Grand National seven months ago. Gordon Elliott has swamped the field with a whole army of runners, of which recent scorer Gevrey and Hollow Games rate the main dangers, but Limerick Lace is given the nod to spring the surprise

Race & Stay Irish EBF Beginners Chase 3.05
Fact To File (nb)
It’s interesting that Willie Mullins has sent Fact To File straight into the fencing division for this season. That’s an unusual route to take, though he’s done it before with both Florida Pearl and Missed That, so there’s surely some solid reasoning coming out of the gallops to make that call. Gordon Elliott’s American Mike was always going to be a chaser, so he wastes no more time over timber, and this pair look the ones to feature in this Beginners Chase. Fact To File was a smart one in bumpers, and is taken to make a winning start over fences

Coolmore N.H. Sires Hurricane Lane Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Listed) 3.40
Only By Night
With the costly Qualimita going straight into a Listed contest, owners Robcour must have high hopes she’ll make a winning start. The 500,000 Euro fee was pretty staggering after just the sole points run, so it has to be taken on trust she’s ready for her debut under rules. Given that, the preference is for the more race-hardened Only By Night, who has moved out of Jonjo O’Neill’s yard to score on her first start for Gavin Cromwell. A good race to close the Navan card, with Only By Night taken to keep up the winning thread

Cheltenham

Jewson Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.20
City Chief
The chance is taken on City Chief who lines up here for Seven Barrows handler Nicky Henderson. This is his ground, and with form at 3 miles, every chance that he can see out this trip and get into the mix when the field are flat out out up the Cheltenham hill. It is going to be testing, so endurance and clean jumping are the key factors in the final appraisal, and City Chief ticks both those boxes. Charlie Longsdon’s Guetapan Collonges is a decent rival, so these are the pair to keep on side with a marginal preference for the less exposed City Chief

Shloer Chase (Grade 2) 2.55
Jonbon
What a race in store for this Grade 2 feature on Sunday, as Jonbon, the full brother to the brilliant Douvan lines up against Alan King’s Edwardstone. They’re both top class chasers in the making, moving into the main division this season. Jonbon’s win in the Celebration Chase at Sandown Park at the end of last season looks the outstanding piece of form to take into this race, and with no ground concerns he can finally break the Cheltenham duck. Jonbon to beat Edwardstone in a thriller

Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3.30
Nemean Lion
Winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle gave notice that Kerry Lee’s Golden Horn gelding is ready to sit at the top table this season. He was given a proper examination in that race at Ffos Las by Anyharminasking, but if there’s no more rain here on Sunday, everything looks to be in his favour. he should be used to plenty of cut in the ground, having started his career with Andre Fabre in France, and looks the one to follow here despite shouldering top weight

Turners Open NH Flat Race (Listed) 4.00
Brechin Castle
Ben Brookhouse might have the answer with Brechin Castle for the closer at Cheltenham. He could not have been more impressive than when scoring at Sedgefield on his debut under rules, and is in good hands with this young trainer. Worth a chance on ground and a course that should suit after such a good win on Sedgefield’s undulations

The Mandarin