The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 1st December 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Fairyhouse

Bar One Racing ‘Price Boosts Across All Channels’ Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 12.30
Willy De Houelle
The first of the Black Type races can go to Willy De Houelle in the pink and green silks of Rich Ricci. This grey gelding has been recruited from France after bagging the runners-up spot in a Listed race at Auteuil in April, and is sure to be well prepped for his first run on Irish soil. Noel Meade’s Messerschmitt lines up after a nice win in a Juvenile Hurdle at Galway, and with the yard in good form could rate the main danger, while Will McCreey’s Coul Dreamer can also make the frame. Willy De Houelle to make it a winning start for the Closutton stable.

Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Overnight Prices’ Porterstown Handicap Chase (Listed) 1.05
Outside The Door
It could pay to side with Padraig Roche’s Outside The Door for this marathon trip. He went close enough on the Mallow in the Cork National the last day, making smooth progress through the field to get within half a length of the leading pair through the line, so wouldn’t have to improve much to be a factor again. Gordon Elliott’s Where It All Began ran a fine race at the Cheltenham Festival to go fourth in the Kim Muir, but might just need a run to be seen at his best, so Sphagnum and Positive Thinker, who were 1,2 in the Cork National can make the frame. These are the principals, but Outside The Door can go in with a cleaner round of fencing.

Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.35
Romeo Coolio
Willie Mullins sends out a whole squad for this Novice Hurdle, but Gordon Elliott holds the aces with Bleu De Vassy and Romeo Coolio. The ready preference is for Romeo Coolio, who was so impressive when bolting up by 18 lengths at Down Royal on his return to action four weeks back. Stablemate Bleu De Vassy has to give away 3lbs, which could be decisive. Belloccio looks the first string for Willie Mullins with Paul Townend aboard, but he was well beaten when last of nine in the Long Distance Cup on Ascot’s Champions Day card, so might be short of what’s required here. Romeo Coolio to go in, ahead of Bleu De Vassy.

Bar One Racing Drinmore Chase (Grade 1) 2.05
Heart Wood (nb)
A good clash in store for the Drinmore, with both Firefox and Heart Wood lining up after decent wins over fences. It seems sure that Firefox’s future is over fences, but Heart Wood has more chasing experience and having served it up to the smart Corbetts Cross in a Listed contest at Wexford he’s easy to back. It’s Gordon Elliott versus Henry de Bromhead for Grade One honours, with Heart Wood taken to score.

Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (Grade 1) 2.40
Lossiemouth (nap)
Teahupoo has won this the last two years, in what has become a regular starting point for his campaign, but he’s now really up against it with Lossiemouth on the scene. Willie Mullins’s latest stable star has only suffered defeat once in nine starts over timber, when going down to stablemate Gala Marceau in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last year, and in receipt of a 7lb sex allowance from Teahupoo, can make her presence felt. Beacon Edge and Maxxum look outclassed here, so Lossiemouth is on track to stop Teahupoo in his hat-trick bid. Respected.

Bar One Racing ‘100% Football Acca Boost On Self Service Betting Terminals’ Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 3.10
Cappucino
A tricky race to dissect with plenty to make a case for, but Liz Doyle’s Cappucino lines up here on a hat-trick so gets a tentative nod. This Westerner gelding has certainly returned a better model this term, winning with a bit in hand at Listowel before repeating the trick at Punchestown the last day. Others to note are British raider Washington, from Harry Derham’s in-form yard, Emmet Mullins So Scottish, who hasn’t won for a while but should be in the mix, and Mark Fahey’s Telecon, who is unexposed and capable at this level. Cappucino to get some Black Type for one of the smaller yards, and nail the hat-trick.

The Mandarin