The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 8th October 2023

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Uttoxeter & Kelso

Uttoxeter

Grace & Dotty Country Clothing Maiden Hurdle 1.45
King William Rufus
It may pay to side with Chris Gordon’s King William Rufus for the opener. He showed signs of talent on all three Bumper starts last season, including a sterling effort on soft ground at Plumpton against a Paul Nicholls odds-on chance. The desperate ground there eventually relegated him to the runners-up spot, but he then put in another couple of fair efforts, placed in both. As likely as any to score here should he cope with the cut in the ground

Grace & Dotty Country Clothing Maiden Hurdle 2.15
Booster Bob
Olly Murphy has been racking up the winners so Booster Bob is taken to put in a good run for the in-form yard. He won his Bumper on his debut under rules at Ayr back in January on soft ground, though didn’t fare so well next time out at Wetherby on a faster surface, so the ease in the going here should suit. Given the nod to open his account over timber in an ordinary affair for the grade

Andy’s Man Club Novices’ Chase 2.45
I Like To Move It (nap)
Just the three lining up for this Class 3 contest but a proper race on the cards, with all of them having valid claims. Olly Murphy’s Chasing Fire cost a pretty penny from a Point, and didn’t disappoint connections when he won his Bumper and then his first three starts over hurdles. He never figured in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, but could well take to fences now, while Pembroke was similarly effective over timber, featuring at Graded level, and may also have more to offer now chasing. However, Greatwood Hurdle winner, I Like To Move It is a classy type, and could well prove to be even better over fences. A good race in store, with I Like To Move It the one to follow

Winter Ladies Day Friday 20th October Maiden Hurdle 3.15
Emotional Memories
DJ Jeffreys sends out Emotional Memories who came from the back of the field over course and distance last month for a fast finishing third, and can go two better this time. That said, his best runs have been on better ground, so any more rain wouldn’t be welcome, but he outran his odds of 50/1 in that race, and won’t be anywhere near as good value here. One going the right way, and should be losing the Maiden tag soon enough

Adam Bednall 50th Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle 3.45
Hurricane Harvey
Twice a winner here, over fences in 2020 and over hurdles here last December, so looks the one to follow from Fergal O’Brien’s yard. Both The Bomber Liston and West To The Bridge are decent rivals, so Hurricane Harvey will have to work for it, but he’s capable of winning in this grade. Hurricane Harvey to make it three from three on this track

Kelso

NSPCC School Service Simply Ned Handicap Chase 3.30
Tommy’s Oscar (nb)
Ann Hamilton holds the key to Kelso’s feature race with Tommy’s Oscar, who has Grade 2 form over fences and is hard to oppose here in a Handicap. Also a smart hurdler on his day, his record over fences is two wins and three runners-up spots from his five starts. Malystic is the one most likely to make a race of it, but Tommy’s Oscar is a classy type who goes well fresh, so gets the nudge

Peter & Gillian Allan Catering Handicap Chase 4.30
Do No Wrong
Justin Landy has got Do No Wrong into a nice vein of form this summer, and with conditions set to stay fine on Sunday, the hat-trick is on the cards. However, there is a chance that Saturday’s downpour could soften the going, which would be a negative point, so it has to be taken on trust that good ground will prevail. Brian Hughes is in the hot seat in place of Finn Lambert, and every chance of the three-timer here

The Mandarin