The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 24th November 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for Sunday 24th November

Tokyo

Japan Cup (Grade 1) 06.40
Goliath
Francis-Henri Graffard’s French raider Goliath can clean up a big prize in the Japan Cup, and make it a hat-trick of wins at the very highest level. Winning this will take his career earnings over the million pound mark, and having scored in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot on good to firm ground, all the stars look aligned for another big win. He was a 25/1 shot for that Ascot race, but finished over 2 lengths ahead of Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking, who of course went on to win the Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, so the form could hardly be better franked. Aidan O’Brien sends over 2023 Derby winner Auguste Rodin, who has mainly been kept to 10 furlongs this season, while home hopes lie with Blow The Horn, and the Siyouni sired Shin Emperor. A great race in prospect, but on this ground Goliath is the best in Europe this year, and can lay claim to being the best in Asia too if winning this.

Punchestown

Colm Quinn BMW Risk Of Thunder Chase 11.35
Coko Beach
Coko Beach could be the one to side with over the banks course, mainly at the expense of another course and distance winner, Stumptown. Last seen taking on the mighty fences of the Velka Pardubice in the Czech Republic, Gordon Elliott will hope he fares better after unseating Keith Donoghue, but this is his ideal trip and having completed the Grand National at Aintree earlier this year, won’t be lacking for stamina. Stumptown probably has a bit to find on the selection, while Vanillier can also challenge for place money.

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle 12.05
Argento Boy
Willie Mullins is double-handed here with Did I Ask You That and Argento Boy, but it’s Argento Boy that is the one to follow on his hurdling bow. After winning a bumper at Fairyhouse back in January, the grey finished sixth in the Champion Bumper at the Festival here in May, and this looks a good starting point over timber. Gordon Elliott’s Son Of Anarchy can give Argento Boy the most to think about, so it’s between these two.

Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle (Listed) 12.40
Risk Belle
There’s been plenty of money this week for Willie Mullins’s Lot Of Joy, but a chance is taken on her stablemate Risk Belle. The JP McManus owned Risk Belle is on something of a comeback mission, after a down the field finish at Listowel in September, but has had a break and can go well fresh. Risk Belle doesn’t have much to find on official ratings with Lot Of Joy, though gives her 7lbs, while Gordon Elliott’s consistent Riviere D’etel completes the shortlist.

BetVictor Craddockstown Novice Chase (Grade 2) 1.50
Farren Glory (nap)
One of the top novice chasing prospects this season, Gordon Elliot’s Fame And Glory gelding was smart over hurdles last term, landing the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. Though no match for Henry de Bromhead’s Inthepocket in a Beginners Chase on his fencing bow, he soon lost the maiden tag at Naas two weeks ago, although Jack Kennedy still has work to do on his jumping. Joseph O’Brien’s Jordans looks useful, but wouldn’t want too much more rain, so Jordans stablemate, Nurburgring, rates the most obvious danger.

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1) 2.25
Fact To File (nb)
An absolute cracker in store, where last year’s winner Fastorslow looks to get the better of dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs once again. The pair clashed in this last year, where Galopin Des Champs didn’t put in the cleanest round of fencing, leaving JJ Slevin to get Fastorslow through the line from Appreciate It, despite losing his whip. However, Fact To File looked an outstanding novice chaser last season, gifted the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown in a match when Gaelic Warrior unseated Paul Townend at the last, before scoring in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival. Fact To File to serve it to the principals now in open company in a red-hot renewal.

50,000 Euros BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 3.32
Soir De Garde
The well bred Soir De Garde can take the closer for Willie Mullins, with plenty to like as a half brother to State Man. The breeding suggests he’ll cope with this ground, and it’s noted that he wears a hood to block out any unwanted distractions on his debut under rules. Patrick Mullins takes up the reins, so Soir De Garde is taken to make a winning start.

The Mandarin