Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A prosperous New Year to everyone except the auld enemy, the bookies, of course. The first Saturday of 2021 sees the television cameras journey north to Scotland for the post-Hogmanay meeting at Ayr with three handicaps being covered. But the presenters won’t travel from their beloved south-east as they showcase the programme from Sandown Park. They are covering four races from the Esher track including the final of the Veterans Handicap Chase which is always a hugely enjoyable opportunity for us to view some of our old favourites who have given us such great sporting moments over the years.
I have included my idea of the winner in this week’s Lucky Fifteen along with the best value horses from the other races on offer and here are my thoughts for this week.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. San Benedeto
3.00 Sandown. Crosspark
3.35 Sandown. Friend Or Foe
2.40 Ayr. Illegal Model
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The first televised race is the 1.50 at Sandown the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap Chase over just short of 2 miles. We have a real hot-pot favourite here in the form of Ibleo trained by Venetia Williams but he has been favourite on his last three outings and been stuffed every time, the same may happen again. During his last outing at Cheltenham (where I tipped him), he lost a shoe when finishing runner-up but he wouldn’t have caught the winner anyway. I will avoid him this time.
Moonlighter from Nick Williams’s yard has some good form. His second in the Halden Gold Cup at Exeter in November was an excellent performance but he makes mistakes as was proved next time out when he fell at Newbury.
Another who makes errors is Gary Moore’s Early Du Lemo who fell heavily at Ascot in December. He was beaten by Darebin, his stable companion, earlier in the month here at Sandown and I expect those placings to be confirmed but this is a better class of race.
I have a preference for Paul Nicholls’s San Benedeto who has been running in Graded company. He drops back in trip here; a distance he has won six times. He can go on and increase his tally.
At 3.00, we have the race of the day- the Unibet Veterans Handicap Chase over 3 miles. It is great to watch these old favourites battle it out for this prestigious prize which was won by Anthony Honeyball’s Jepeck last year and he returns to defend his crown. He had a fine season last time but he has been pulled up on both his outings this time around. He won by a short head last year and the runner-up, Regal Flow, returns for another crack at this trophy.
Bob Buckler’s gelding was seen here at Sandown in early December where he was a well beaten third and although he has had this race as his target he is 14 now and I pass him over.
Lucy Wadham’s Potters Legend is the form horse, he won at Warwick in November beating several of the opponents he faces here, then ran a fine second at Cheltenham in December but he is higher in the weights now.
Late Romantic won at Haydock last time for Oliver Greenall in heavy ground. He had pulled up previously at Carlisle and is said to prefer a flat course. The uphill finish here at Sandown may find him out.
I must go for Caroline Bailey’s Crosspark who has been runner-up in all three of his outings this season. He deserves a victory. He was beaten a nose at Chepstow in October, then three-quarters of a length here at Sandown in November, followed by a similar length defeat again here in December. On these occasions, he has had several of the opponents he faces here behind him and he has less weight than he carried in those contests. He looks the pick of the crop.
The final race at Sandown is the Unibet Casino Handicap Hurdle at 3.35. This looks a very open betting contest with Paul Nicholls’s Friend Or Foe likely to go off favourite. He was an unlucky second in his penultimate contest after hitting the last at Huntington but gained recompense when winning at Wincanton last time out. He is stepping up in class here and has risen 13lbs in the handicap but the manner of his latest victory gives him very strong claims.
Chris Gordon’s Highway One O Two ran up a treble last season but has been unable to stay on his feet in his two outings this year. If he could finish, he could be there or thereabouts.
The Pink’n trained by Seamus Mullins has been runner-up on his three outings this season, including a Listed contest at Newbury in November. He may have to settle for a place one more.
Another with a chance in this hot contest is Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Guard Your Dreams who has been a dual winner at Bangor-on-Dee this year but he steps up in class here. I will go for Friend Or Foe to continue is winning ways.
Moving north to Ayr the 2.40 is the Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle, a 3-mile contest.
Big Penny is fancied here trained by LJ Morgan who has shown exceptional form in some lower grade races. His latest outing was a good second at Lingfield but he needs to step up in class here.
Portstorm has won on his only outing this year for trainer Ian Duncan, that was here at Ayr in December but he is another stepping up in class.
Better Getalong trained by Nicky Richards is an Ayr specialist having won here three times but he is a 10-year-old now and last won two years ago.
The interesting entrant is Charlie Longsdon’s Illegal Model who has dropped down the handicap. He won at Lingfield a year ago and has put in two fair runs this season. He can return to winning ways here in Scotland.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. San Benedeto
3.00 Sandown. Crosspark
3.35 Sandown. Friend Or Foe
2.40 Ayr. Illegal Model
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365