The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections for 9th February 2025

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Navan, Exeter & Chepstow

Navan

Ryan’s Cleaning Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2.10
Just For Love
This Listed contest can go back to Closutton with Just For Love. This is an ease in class from the Grade 3 Stayers Novice Hurdle the last day, where Pray Tell had her four and three quarter lengths back, but Paul Townend takes up the reins this time, and this shouldn’t take too much winning. Blue Mosque is out of Noel Meade’s in-form yard, so rates the main threat, but on this ground Just For Love edges it.

William Hill Top Price Guarantee Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) 2.40
Thedevilscoachman (nb)
Noel Meade’s Thedevilscoachman is a smart hurdler, landing this in 2022, before spending a season chasing. Returned to hurdles this year, Thedevilscoachman put in a fine effort to finish second to Rocky’s Diamond in the Galmoy Hurdle, also a Grade 2, and can only come on for that January run after over 9 months off. Minella Indo reverts to hurdles for the first time since 2019, though might find this a bit on the sharp side, and with Henry de Bromhead’s stable not firing on all cylinders, doubts persist. Also, Minella Indo has bigger dates in the diary, namely the Grand National at Aintree in April, so won’t be wanting to push too hard on the selection. Thedevilscoachman to regain the title.

William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase (Grade 2) 3.45
Better Days Ahead
Better Days Ahead can take this Grade 2 Novice Chase ahead of stablemates Three Card Brag and Stellar Story. He’ll cope with this soft ground, though the deeper it gets, the more it favours Three Card Brag, who has stamina in abundance, but Better Days Ahead was just a head behind Croke Park in the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase, at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day, and that Grade 1 form stacks up well for this Grade 2. Stellar Story has to give weight to both of the Gordon Elliott pair, and that asks the question, so Better Days Ahead is the one to follow.

Exeter

Agatha Christie Mares’ Novices’ Chase (Listed) 2.00
Fun Fun Fun (nap)
A terrific duel in store between Fun Fun Fun and Only By Night. Course winner Fun Fun Fun just edges the vote in receipt of 5lbs from Only By Night, and if there’s any more rain down here in the South West that only plays into her hands even more. That said, Only By Night has quickly made into a smart prospect over fences, winning both her starts at Tipperary and in a Cork Grade 2, and both have beaten Fun Fun Fun’s stablemate Karia Des Blaises the last day, so if that’s any sort of yardstick then Fun Fun Fun won by the bigger margin. Cracking contest, with Fun Fun Fun taken to come out on top.

trustatrader.com Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 2.30
Regent’s Stroll
Paul Nicholls’ costly Walk In The Park gelding Regent’s Stroll made quite an impression when fourth in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. Although no match for the exciting The New Lion in that Grade One contest, this looks a whole lot easier, so Regent’s Stroll can get upsides of Joe Tizzard’s Alexei and Olly Murphy’s Fingle Bridge. That pair line up here on a seasonal hat-trick, so shouldn’t be taken lightly, but just 7 lengths behind The New Lion suggests there’s more to come from Regent’s Stroll, considering the depth of the Challow race. Regent’s Stroll to justify favouritism here.

Chepstow

Let’s Bet Personal With Fitzdares Novices’ Hurdle 1.20
Juby Ball
This Novices’ Hurdle can go to Evan Williams’ Juby Ball, who won with plenty in hand at Ffos Las. Adam Wedge didn’t have to get too serious with the whip to cruise home by 4 lengths, so with similar soft ground here at Chepstow there should be more to come, especially with some cleaner work over the timber. Juby Ball has to shoulder a 7lb penalty for that win, which puts him on level terms with course and distance winner Ben Solo, but he looks a prospect so gets our vote.

The Mandarin