Seymour Biz plans to fire at the bookies, on Saturday, with Shotgun Paddy a key component of his Lucky 15 flutter.
Well, after a wonderful weeks racing you would think it would be a case of after the Lord Mayors Show when looking forward to the weekend’s offerings – but that is certainly not the case, with fine meetings at Newbury, Haydock and Taunton to look forward to with the Mandarin Chase being the highlight on Newbury’s card. Looking back over to the Boxing day fixtures, that was a great victory by Might Bite who will now go forward to the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, I will soon be puttting a weekly column together looking forward to the Cheltenham meeting and the progression of the horses that will be involved, so hopefully we can pick out some future champions at good ante-post prices. Anyway, back to this weekend and I will look at four of the TV races and try and pick out some value from these.
The 2.10 at Haydock is The Last Fling Handicap Chase and it is a very open race, contested by some good handicappers. Tom George has Wild West Wind declared for this and he is a horse who is very consistent, as he won a Welsh National Trial early in December beating Alfie Spinner and Shotgun Paddy. He has been declared for this and as the Welsh National meeting is abandoned looks ideal here. Nicky Henderson has a couple declared for this, Vyta Du Roc looks on a handy mark he also has Lessons In Milan. Crosspark for Caroline Bailey can run a good race at a big price, but I fancy Wild West Wind to prevail.
Over at Newbury, the 2.25 race is is the Betfred Mandarin Handicap Chase, and Shotgun Paddy could be the answer at a big price. Emma Lavelle’s ten year old had a good run out at Chepstow last time out beaten only six lengths by Wild West Wind, I think Newbury will suit him better than Chepstow. It is a very open race and I also like Potters Legend and Daklondike, the former may have too much weight, but David Pipe’s horse carried over 12 stone to victory last time. He is only a five year old and is definitely one to watch.
The Betfred Challow Novice Hurdle is the 3.00. at Newbury and Poetic Rhythm is declared. Fergal O’Brien’s charge is a horse with a very high potential – he ran in the Neptune at the Festival, where he was hampered and a race like this should be his for the taking. Richard Johnson is already declared to ride Dame Rose for Richard Hobson which is quite eye catching and Colin Tizzard sends one of his stable stars Kilbricken Storm to the party, but I really like Poetic Rhythm and he is my nap of the weekend.
Finally the cameras are will be trained on Taunton at 3.15 for the Mares Novice Hurdle. Nicky Henderson has the Queen’s Sushade declared, a very top notch hurdler who has won three out of three. She won by 14 lengths at Market Rasen last time out and will go very close here. Paul Nicholls has If You Say Run, another high class mare who has won three out of four. So, is there one that can possibly beat this pair of hot-pots? Yes there is, Stuart Edmunds’s Maria’s Benefit! She has really got the hang of it now and has won the her last three outings, the latest at Ludlow. The mare has been aimed at this race since then and should put up a good performance after stepping up in grade.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.10 Haydock Wild West Wind
2.25 Newbury Shotgun Paddy
3.00 Newbury Poetic Rhythm
3.15 Taunton Maria’s Benefit
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Contact Seymour Biz, with your own thoughts, tips and questions, at the following address: ahroberts99@yahoo.com