The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sandown Park & Naas

The Mandarin’s Sunday Selections from Sandown Park & Naas

Sandown Park

Sri Lanka – The Wonder Of Asia Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 1.05
Henri The Second
Henri The Second won the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle here last December, and can make his mark over fences too. Known to go well fresh, and very lightly raced, the Wind Op might have brought out more improvement, with underfoot conditions just perfect. The highly tried Blow Your Wad rates the main danger, but Paul Nicholls has his string in fine fettle, so Henri The Second is the one to follow

Tattersalls Tingle Creek Festival Sale Maiden Hurdle 1.40
Stenatee
Gary Moore has an interesting French recruit to his yard in Stenatee, who bolted home on his sole start in France by 15 lengths. That said, there were only two rivals in that low key contest, but he’s in excellent hands and has had a Wind Op. Interesting

Amazing Sri Lanka Elmbridge Handicap Chase 2.15
Jetronic (nap)
Another French recruit and one that will be right at home on this ground. Paul Nicholls is sending out winners for fun in the early stages of the season, and Jetronic looks the one to beat here. He won his chasing bow when under Patrice Quinton, with a decent round of fencing, so should be in the mix here with Harry Cobden taking up the reins. Gary Moore’s In The Air is a useful sort, and this pair can fight it out for a tidy sum in this Class 3 contest

Sri Lanka – The Jewel Of Asia Handicap Hurdle 2.50
Legendary Day
Legendary Day returns from a freshener after a busy year on the flat, but he won his debut over timber this time last year, and surely has more scope in this sphere. He looks well-treated back over hurdles and has Brian Hughes booked for the trip, so Adrian Keatley’s gelding makes the most appeal

Sri Lanka Paradise Island Veterans’ Handicap Chase 3.25
Cyclop
Good Boy Bobby and Cyclop clashed swords at Chepstow last month, with Good Boy Bobby coming out on top. However, there wasn’t much in it as they reeled in a tiring Aye Right, and now Cyclop gets a 3lb pull which could make all the difference. David Dennis’s 12 year old has been around a long time, but has more wins in him in these Veterans races. Another big run on the cards, and easy to back

Naas

BetVictor Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle 12.50
Hypotenus
An interesting clash between French recruit Golden Joy and Gavin Cromwell’s Hypotenus. Gordon Elliott has taken charge of Golden Joy after a 5 length win on his hurdling bow at Auteuil and he now lines up sporting the Robcour silks, so with the trainer’s current strike rate has to enter calculations. However, Hypotenus showed plenty to win by 15 lengths at Gowran Park for his first run for Gavin Cromwell, so with a win on Irish soil just edges the vote, and there’s every chance he can return to the level of form that saw him place in a Graded contest

Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle 2.00
Thecompanysergeant
The chance is taken on Thecompanysergeant for this Listed Handicap Hurdle. There’s a few useful sorts lining up here too, not least of them Summerville Boy, last seen in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. However, the selection is on a workable mark and with conditions to suit, likely to be right in the mix

Barberstown Castle Chase (Grade 3) 2.35
Sir Gerhard (nb)
Willie Mullins looks to have this Grade 3 race sewn up with Sir Gerhard and Dinoblue both going to post. The preference is for Sir Gerhard though, who has yet to really set light to his chasing career, but after a brilliant 2021/2022 hurdling campaign which included a win in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival should have more to offer over fences. Dinoblue hardly put a foot wrong last season, winning three and finishing runner-up in her other three starts, but steps into the main division now and might just need a little more. Sir Gerhard and Paul Townend to score Black Type here

Mongey Communications Beginners Chase 3.10
Grangeclare West
There are two interesting newcomers to the chasing circuit here in Corbetts Cross and Grangeclare West. Corbetts Cross could well have won the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival back in March but for running-out, and is fancied to make a winning start over fences here. However, marginal preference is for Willie Mullins’s Grangeclare West, who always looked like this was going to be his game. A great race in store

The Mandarin