Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are two meetings being covered on ITV Racing this Saturday, instead of the hoped-for three, as Wetherby has been abandoned due to the weather. So we are left with Warwick and Kempton, and both of these need to survive inspections for our afternoon fare. I just hope the promised snow doesn’t materialise, and the courses are able to hold their meetings.
Warwick is the principal meeting, as it hosts its big day of the year, with five races televised, a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase, and four handicaps of various classes.
Meanwhile, at Kempton, there is a Grade 2 Chase and two Class 2 handicaps on offer. So fingers crossed everything goes ahead, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Warwick. Premier
2.55 Warwick. Mr Vango
3.32 Warwick. Spike Jones
3.17 Kempton. Lanesborough
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Warwick with the 2.25 the William Hill Handicap Hurdle a Class 4 race run over 2 miles. Tom Ellis’s Soldier’s Leap won two Class 5 races this term and moves up a notch here after a break.
Stuart Edmunds’s Kelijoe won comfortably at Doncaster last month in a Class 5. He deserves the chance to move up in class.
Henry Oliver’s Three Pikes won a Class 4 in June and had run consistently well in similar contests since. However, this is his first run since September.
The Twiston-Davies horse At The Oche won at Ffos Las in October but disappointed at Kempton last time out.
I take a chance with Warren Greatrex’s Premier, who put in a pleasing run, and the manner of his victory at Taunton in December showed he is an improving horse, and I take him to follow up.
The 2.55 is the William Hill Half A Mil Classic Handicap Chase. This Grade 3 Premier Handicap is run over 3m 5f. Top weight is Venetia Williams’s L’Homme Presse, who ran a good second on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham in December. 12 stone may be his undoing.
Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey won well first time out at Carlisle but was very disappointing at Newbury in November. He is probably best watched here.
Lucinda Russell’s Myretown won three times last season, but for all his class, he can be a dodgy jumper as he proved on his seasonal reappearance when he fell at Newbury in November. He is a big danger if he stays on his feet.
Mel Rowley’s Val Dancer was a dual winner last season but hasn’t really shown that sort of form this time around, but his low weight may see him run into a place.
One of the bravest horses in training is Sara Bradstock’s Mr Vango, who was three from three last season and was only beaten a short head at Aintree last month, and he gets the nod.
The 3.32 at Warwick is the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, which is a Class 2 race run over 3m 1f. Tom Symonds’ Lud’or is the current favourite. He ran consistently well last season and has carried that on this term. He won at Bangor in November and ran a good third later that month, but he is high in the weights here.
Dan Skelton’s Tranquil Sea won a Class 4 at Chepstow in October but has been unsuccessful twice since moving up to Class 2 races.
Sam Drinkwater’s Spike Jones ran well to be placed in his first two races this season, but didn’t get very far at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, falling at the fourth fence. He can improve on that with his low weight.
Olly Murphy’s Long Draw finished 9th in that Cheltenham race after two previous 4th places at Prestbury Park, and this race could be between him and Spike Jones, with the latter just getting the nod due to his low weight.
Kempton’s 3.17 is the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle. This Class 2 Handicap is run over a distance of 2m 5f. The Hobbs and White runner French Ship has a top weight of 12 stone. He fell on his seasonal reappearance in October, but has won twice since at Cheltenham and Newbury. His weight is a worry.
Dan Skelton’s A Pai de Nom is 3 from 4 this season and is upped in class here for the first time. This is tougher.
Paul Nicholls has two in this, Just A Rose and Fasol. The latter has won his last two at Wincanton and Musselburgh. He is upped in class, but with his low weight and a claimer aboard, a bold run is expected.
Jeremy Scott’s Came From Nowhere won a Class 3 at Hereford in December and has shown improvement this term. He may be placed at a nice price.
But I was really impressed with the run of Ben Pauling’s Lanesborough last time when he won at Doncaster before Christmas. He romped home by 8 lengths that day and has continued to improve on the good form he showed last season.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Warwick. Premier
2.55 Warwick. Mr Vango
3.32 Warwick. Spike Jones
3.17 Kempton. Lanesborough
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Related Reading:
