Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A tremendous Saturday’s racing to look forward to this week with four proper National Hunt meetings on offer with racing taking place throughout the country. Aintree, Chepstow, Sandown and Wetherby all have fine cards on offer, and as ITV are only able to fit two into their schedule, they have chosen those with the biggest prize money in the hope that it attracts the best horses and so produces the best racing.
There are four races being televised from Aintree, including the Becher Chase run over the Grand National fences while there are another four from Sandown where the feature races are the Henry VIII Novices and the Tingle Creek Chases, both of which are Grade 1’s.
These two races have a strong Irish contingent. However, I am interested in a pair of Paul Nicholls horses. Il Ridoto moves up in class in the Henry VIII after a 6 lengths victory at Newbury last Saturday while Hitman runs in the Tingle Creek after running a close second in the Halton at Exeter. These two young horses are expected to put up a bold show and it should pay to follow them throughout the season.
Meanwhile, here are my thoughts for big handicap races where there is plenty of value to be found for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.40 Aintree. Tout Est Permis
3.15 Aintree. Pounding Poet
3.00 Sandown. Larry
3.35 Sandown. Benson
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Aintree with the 2.40 the Unibet Becher Handicap Chase, a 3m 2f race run over the Grand National fences. Last year’s winner, Vieux Lion Rouge, returns to defend his title. However, David Pipe’s gelding is coming up on thirteen now and this looks like a big ask on firmer going.
The top weight is Henry de Bromhead’s Chris’s Dream who was going well in fourth place when unseating his jockey four out in the Grand National. He will go close but the weight is a worry.
Lucinda Russell’s Mighty Thunder won last year’s Scottish National but he was well beaten on his reappearance at Wetherby in October, he may want further.
Peter Bowen’s Mac Tottie won over these fences in early November but he has never won over further than 3 miles.
An outsider who may run well is Jonjo O’Neill’s Cobolobo who won at Exeter a year ago. This is his first run of the season but he goes well fresh.
But my idea of the winner is another Irish raider Tout Est Permis trained by Noel Meade who was pulled up two out in the Grand National after a mistake at Beecher’s second time around forced him to lose his place. He has had a prep run for this at Navan a fortnight ago finishing fifth, which should bring him along for the rest of the season.
At 3.15 it is the Unibet – 2021 Horse Race Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Hurdle, a 2m 4f contest. The favourite here is Olly Murphy’s Tamar Bridge who won easily at Wetherby in October and reproduction of that form would see him go very close.
Dan Skelton sends Midnight River here after his foray into chasing at Carlisle last month. He fell there for the second time in his career and returns to hurdling to try and restore his confidence.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Carys’ Commodity is another who fell last time out at Stratford in October but he had a fine season last year winning two of his four outings and may go close.
Another who won twice last season is David Pipe’s Martinhal but he was totally outclassed when running in a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.
Worth a mention is outsider Straw Fan Jack trained by Sheila Lewis who ran a fine second at Cheltenham in October when only beaten a head. Unfortunately, he did not build on that when returning to the course last month and failing to make an impression, a return to this longer distance may prove to be more suitable and he was a course winner at this meeting twelve months ago.
But my preference is for Tom Lacey’s Pounding Poet who won at Southwell in March and Warwick in May then came here to Aintree and ran a fine second in October. He is still low enough in the handicap and can go one better this time around.
Moving south to Sandown it is the Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase at 3.00 where Paul Nicholls has the top weight with Highland Hunter. This is his seasonal reappearance after finishing fifth in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter last March. He won at Carlisle prior to that in February but needs to come down the handicap before winning again.
The justifiable favourite here is Christian Williams’s Strictlyadancer who has won three times in the last two months showing seriously good form in the process. He is definitely the one to beat but could those hard races be taking their toll?
Phillip Hobbs’s Denise Aba has won twice here at Sandown and ran a fine second at Aintree in early November last time out but he has a lot of “P’s” in his form figures recently.
Larry won at Ascot last time for trainer Gary Moore after previously being unlucky when hampered by a loose horse and unseating his rider. He is also a dual Sandown winner and should go well.
Near the bottom of the handicap is David Bridgwater’s Salty Boy who failed to win for his new yard last season but after running well at Lingfield, he finally got his head in front last month at Fontwell. He is showing improvement and should be in the mix. So I am between Salty Boy and Larry and the latter just gets a nod.
At 3.35 it is the Betfair Daily Rewards December Handicap Hurdle, a Listed race run over 2 miles. The current favourite here is Gary Moore’s Hudson de Grugy who was second here at Sandown twelve months ago when debuting for his new stable but has won three times at this course since, the latest of which was last month.
Harry Fry’s Metier was unbeaten when going into the Supreme Novices at the Festival but he could finish only seventh. This is his seasonal reappearance.
Paul Nicholls’s Samarrive was disappointing on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham last month after looking a good prospect when winning at Kempton in April.
Dr Richard Newland has course and distance winner Benson in the lineup. He won three times last season and was somewhat disappointing on his first run of the season at Cheltenham last month. He can bounce back from that and show last season’s form.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.40 Aintree. Tout Est Permis
3.15 Aintree. Pounding Poet
3.00 Sandown. Larry
3.35 Sandown. Benson
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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