Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
We are in the betwixt and between period as the jump season has not quite finished and the flat season has just started so the television cameras are showing a bit of each. It is not the most wonderful weekend of racing but the ITV are showing the Scottish Sprint Cup and Queens Cup from Musselburgh while at Haydock they have the finals of the Betway Challenger Series over the sticks.
So as we look forward to the English and Scottish Nationals over the next two Saturdays, we will have to make do with some pretty meagre fare but there are winners to be found and there could be some good value amongst the two cards. With that in mind here are my thoughts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Musselburgh. Marshal Dan
3.00 Musselburgh. Caspian Prince
2.40 Haydock. Debece
3.15 Haydock. Regarding Ruth
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning with the Betway Musselburgh Silver Arrow Handicap at 1.50 over 7 furlongs where Archie Watson’s Stone Soldier looks the one who will go off favourite. He has proved to have something of a liking for Southwell winning there on three of his last four outings but he has not won on turf since 2019 and I wonder if he is suited now to this surface.
Richard Fahey has a couple of entries here in Gallipoli and National League and the latter looks the best of the pair. He ran a good third at Doncaster last October and this campaign has run on the all-weather, including a fair third at Newcastle three weeks ago. He may run into a place.
Ian Williams sends Ejtilaab out for his first run of the season. He won at Chelmsford last November but was unsuited by Lingfield on his final outing. He could be there or thereabouts.
But I like the look of Heather Main’s Marshal Dan who had a great season last year winning three times, including over this course and distance in a Class 2 contest last October. He has the ability to take this for his opera singing trainer who seems to get a good tune out of him.
The Betway Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap is at 3.00 and this is a very open betting heat. Up near the top of the betting is Kevin Ryan’s Justanotherbottle who had a prep run for this at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago. He finished off last season with a fine win at Catterick over this trip last October when he had several of these behind him but it may be too early in the season for him.
The other leader in the betting is David Barron’s Zarzyni who similarly has had a run at Wolverhampton early in March but over 6 furlongs, he was racing over 7 furlongs at the end of last season and I think the extra distance is more his forte.
Michael Appleby has won this race three times in the last four runnings and sends Caspian Prince to try to emulate his 2018 victory. He has wintered in Dubai running three times without success in top class company. He will try to make it all here and with a good draw, he can add this to his long list of victories.
John Quinn’s Lord Riddiford is worth a mention after winning on his last two outings on the all-weather. He has proved himself to be a very brave fighter and he may be the one to chase the selection home.
Moving south to Haydock Park and at 2.40, we have the Betway Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase run over just under 3m 2f.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has the top weight here with Checkitout who is on a hat-trick after victories at Southwell and Ludlow but 11st12lbs looks too much to carry.
Strictlyadancer has shown good form this year for trainer Christian Williams. His latest run was a third place behind Crossley Tender at Exeter in January but he is 8lbs better off after that defeat. He should make a place once again.
The aforementioned Crossley Tender trained by Paul Henderson has since been beaten twice and I fear the handicapper has his measure.
Nicky Henderson’s Versatility is fancied in some sectors. He won at Ludlow in November but was soundly beaten at Sandown last month and I think is best watched.
The second in that Sandown race was Dan Skelton’s Debece who had recently changed yards and had had a wind op. That was only his first run for new connections and I’m sure they were happy with what they saw and he is able to go on to better things and take this contest.
The 3.15 at Haydock is the Betway Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle over 3 miles. Sue Smith’s Small Present will probably go off favourite here as he goes for his hat-trick but I think perhaps the handicapper has his measure.
Dan Skelton’s Ashtown Lad has top weight and I was impressed with him earlier in the season but he went off the boil later on. On his latest outing in January, he was pulled up and was found to have blood in his throat. I’m sure he has got over that but is probably best watched here.
Supakalanistic from Nigel Twiston-Davies’s yard has shown some good form this season, including on the all-weather. His latest run at Doncaster where he finished a fine second needs to be improved upon to take this.
Lucy Wadham’s Regarding Ruth won at Newbury at the beginning of March in what was a fine victory. The mare came home by 5 lengths that day and had several opponents she will face here behind her in this contests. I expect her to confirm those placings and she can go on to win again.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Musselburgh. Marshal Dan
3.00 Musselburgh. Caspian Prince
2.40 Haydock. Debece
3.15 Haydock. Regarding Ruth
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365