The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 3rd November 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from The Curragh, Cork & Carlisle

The Curragh

Comer Group International Loughbrown Stakes (Group 3) 3.00
Harbour Wind
It’s very hard to ignore the appeal of Dermot Weld’s Harbour Wind for this Group 3 contest. This Nathaniel gelding is putting together a solid form book with four wins and four seconds from his eight starts, and although he couldn’t stay with the smart staying prospect Al Nayyir at Newmarket back in September, he took that step up to 2 miles in his stride. That said, there’s plenty of dangers, not least the useful dual code performer The Shunter, and Aidan O’Brien’s Lily Hart. Joseph O’Brien’s Dawn Rising was a fine sixth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, so has plenty of stamina, but Harbour Wind edges the vote.

Curragh On Course Bookmakers Finale Stakes (Listed) 3.35
Hamish (nap)
William Haggas can take the Finale Stakes with British raider Hamish, who was so impressive in the Prix du Conseil de Paris last time out. Sent off at 5/1, he really gave a scare to the hot favourite Goliath, just going down by half a length. If he’s fully recovered from that Group 2, this looks an easier assignment, though that will make him a short odds-on chance. Noel Meade’s Layfayette and Dermot Weld’s veteran, Falcon Eight, are the two that will make Hamish work for his money.

Cork

Paddy Power ‘How Many Days ‘Til Christmas’ Irish EBF Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2.10
Paggane
Thuogh there’s been plenty of support for Gordon Elliott’s The Enabler, from the in-form Cullentra yard, Paggane can serve it up to the jolly. She gets a 3lb pull over The Emabler, and has plenty more wins in her, with this step up to 3 miles sure to bring out more improvement. John McConnell has the prolific Jumping Susie in fine fettle, so she completes the shortlist. Paggane to score for Willie Mullins.

Paddy Power Betting Shops Irish EBF Novice Chase (Grade 3) 2.42
Shecouldbeanything (nb)
Nothing like lining up in form, and although she’s been on the go since February, Shecouldbeanything is on the four-timer here. She only moved into the novice chasing ranks in September after chasing home the re-opposing Jesse Evans in a Beginners Chase at Listowel, but has already notched up three from three. Henry de Bromhead’s Gorgeous Tom has been heading the ante-post markets this week, so rates the main threat, but Shecouldbeanything is taken to make it four in a row.

Paddy Power Cork Grand National Handicap Chase (Listed) 3.15
Outside The Door
A chance is taken on Padraig Roche’s Outside The Door for the Cork National. He looks to be lining up on a workable mark, and Peter Smithers’ 7lb claim is a useful offset. Plenty of money has gone on Henry de Bromhead’s Hand Over Fist this week, and he did win well here last month, but this is further than he has raced and has to see this trip out. Gordon Elliott’s So Des Flos makes a seasonal reappearance, and can make the frame if ready for this, while Mouse Morris’s Caesar Rock is an interesting each-way angle. Outside The Door to go in, with Hand Over Fist keeping him honest.

Carlisle

Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase (Listed) 1.48
Grey Dawning
Withdrawn from the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on Saturday because of the drying ground, Dan Skelton sends out Grey Dawning in a much less challenging contest. He was a revelation over fences last season, scoring three times and placed in the three other starts in a super novice chasing campaign. Had the ground been right, it would have been a fascinating clash between Grey Dawning and Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday, but there’s every chance they’ll meet in the King George VI at Kempton on Boxing Day. The consistent Trapain Law from Lucinda Russell’s yard looks the biggest danger, but Grey Dawning should be winning this.

Houghton Mares’ Chase (Listed) 2.53
Galia Des Liteaux
Although Dan Skelton’s Saddler Maker mare had been running over further last season, she won a Mares’ Novices’ Chase over 17 furlongs in November 2022. That augurs well for this marked drop back in trip for her seasonal reappearance, and she has a great chance of getting off to a winning starts despite carrying a penalty. That said, if Galia Des Liteaux does find this trip on the sharp side, Lucinda Russell’s El Elefante will be there to pick up the pieces after a nice win at Worcester last month to get her season under way. Smiling Getaway looks a likely type as a chaser, and this completes the shortlist, but Galia Des Liteaux gets the nudge.

The Mandarin