The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 26th January 2025

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Naas

Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 3) 2.00
Anzadam
No surprise to see the price of Anzadam going so short this week in this field of just the three. The way this French Import saw off our selection, Gordon Elliott’s Kala Conti, in the Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle at Fairyhouse, on his first start on Irish soil back in November gave notice of his talent, and he could prove to be the latest star in the Joe Donnelly silks. Laafi has made the move from William Haggas’s Somerville Lodge yard to William Durkan, and wasted no time in getting off the mark in a Limerick maiden, while Beacon Edge is fully exposed after thirty starts over timber. Anzadam to take this without hitting top gear on his way to bigger dates at the Cheltenham Festival. Price to reflect this.

Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase (Grade 3) 2.30
Bioluminescence (nap)
A fascinating clash between Wille Mullins’s Dancing City and Gavin Cromwell’s Bioluminescence. With Dancing City always going to go over fences, he got off the mark at the first time of asking in a Beginners Chase at Punchestown, but Bioluminescence also won on her chasing bow, in the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle at Limerick, and that looks solid enough form to get the nudge here. Gordon Elliott’s Dee Capo also scored the last day, when relegating odds-on favourite Quai De Bourbon to third at Leopardstown, so is more than making up the numbers, but Bioluminescence can take this on ground to suit.

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle 3.00
A Dream To Share (nb)
Formerly the best of the crop in Bumpers in the 20 22 20 23 season, unbeaten in all five starts, including the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals, A Dream To Share was only seen once last term after a setback. However, there was enough evidence after nearly 10 months off that all the talent remains when a two and a half length fifth of twenty-three at Fairyhouse, and this JP McManus owned gelding can only come on for that run. Stuart Crawford’s Krak looked a prospect when outrunning his odds at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting to finish third of twelve, and he rates the main danger, while Gordon Elliott’s Ballybow completes the shortlist. A Dream To Share to get his belated hurdling campaign going with a win.

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2025 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle 3.30
Must Go Now
There was plenty to like about Edward Cawley’s Must Go Now when he won at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, so he can go in again for a quick double. Stephen Carey’s The Nagger Reidy unseated JJ Slevin the last day, but had been going well last year, scoring at Listowel, and then runner-up by just a neck to Shraheen at Tipperary, while top weight Cave Court can also make the frame, with the claimer’s 7lbs a useful offset. Must Go Now edges the vote in a tricky race to dissect, with Ballybow possibly the best of the rest.

The Mandarin