The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 7th January 2024

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Naas & Plumpton

Naas

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase 12.30
Brandy Love
She was an 11 length runner-up to the useful Harmonya Maker at Gowran Park on her chasing bow, but should come on for that run to win this. The extra trip should put less emphasis on her speed and bring her stamina into play on this ground. Easy to back, but not much bang for your buck

BetVictor Irish EBF Novice Chase 1.00
Quilixios
Henry de Bromhead’s Triumph Hurdle winner of 2021 won his first start over fences at Limerick, before finding 3 miles on soft ground an ask too far in the Florida Pearl. Dropped back in trip here, this is a more realistic target, with three powerful yards all with a chance in Willie Mullins’s Mister Policeman, Gordon Elliott’s Sa Fureur, and the selection all bringing solid form. Quilixios was a smart enough hurdler, so is taken to progress over fences and gets the nudge

Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2.00
Ile Atlantique (nap)
A fascinating rematch between Firefox and Ile Atlantique, who were one-two in a Bumper at Punchestown back in April. Both now have winning form over timber, with Firefox beating Ballyburn at Fairyhouse, form that has since been franked, while Ile Atlantique scored in heavy ground at Gowran Park in impressive fashion. Given the conditions, Ile Atlantique makes more appeal at the expense of Firefox in an interesting clash

Plumpton

BetGoodwin Tom Cannon Juvenile Hurdle 12.45
Through The Ages
This Golden Horn gelding came out of Charlie Appleby’s Moulton Paddocks yard, and didn’t take long to lose the maiden tag over hurdles. That all the way win marked him out as one for the tracker, so with just as deep ground here, should be the one to beat. Gary Moore got his string into fine fettle over the Christmas period, so Through The Ages is the one to follow

BetGoodwin Mike Cattermole Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 1.15
Oxygen
Authorised Speed was going well at the front on his chasing bow until falling two out at Ascot, but the ready preference here is for Venetia Williams’s Oxygen. He lines up here on a hat-trick after wins at Lingfield and here, so in receipt of a whopping 18lbs will have to find Authorised Speed at his very best for that rival to land this. Just the five lining up, with Syd Hosie’s Rock My Way also entering calculations, but Oxygen comes from the bottom of the weights, which could be telling on this ground

BetGoodwin Chris Gordon EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle 1.45
Classic Anthem
Jim Boyle can take this Novices’ Hurdle with Classic Anthem, who was good value for his first win over timber at Sandown Park last month. Certainly at home in the mud there, the conditions here at Plumpton should hold no terrors, so Classic Anthem can continue to progress

BetGoodwin Sussex Stayers Handicap Hurdle 2.15
Eldorado Allen
An interesting change of tack for Joe Tizzard’s grey, who has been fencing exclusively for the last four seasons. He put in in a decent shift in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time out, and can make the most of a much lower mark over hurdles here. The stamina won’t be an issue, and with less emphasis on speed over this trip on Plumpton’s sharp course, every chance. Interesting

BetGoodwin Sussex National Handicap Chase 2.50
Rose Of Arcadia (nb)
The feature can go to Joe Tizzard’s Rose Of Arcadia, who ran well enough in a Listed Mares’ Chase at Newbury Park last month to suggest she’ll see out this marathon trip. She was only beaten a head by the smart Galia Des Liteaux in that race, won by Venetia Williams’s Pink Legend, so the form stacks up well enough. There’ll be plenty throwing in the towel before this race is over, but Rose Of Arcadia is one that’s expected to be right there at the business end, having finished every career start. Solid each-way claims at the least

The Mandarin