Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are nine races from three venues being televised this Saturday, with a little something for everyone to look forward to. Unusually, we have Lingfield taking centre stage with no fewer than five races being featured on ITV Racing, the centrepiece being an Oaks trial and a Derby trial, both Listed races. The card starts with a couple of handicaps and finishes with a Group 3 fillies race, with the Trials sandwiched in the middle.
There are three races from Ascot, all handicaps, including the Victoria Cup, and finally a Class 1 handicap hurdle from Haydock’s mixed meeting. So plenty of good racing to look forward to, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.40 Ascot. Myal
3.15 Ascot. Kotari
1.50 Lingfield. Mostawaa
1.35 Haydock. Goblet Of Fire
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Ascot’s 2.40 is the Victoria Cup. This Class 2 Heritage Handicap is run over 7 furlongs. Top weight is Richard Hannon’s Witch Hunter, who was a Group 2 winner in 2023. He has been racing in Listed company this season without success and drops back to handicaps to try and regain his previous winning ways, but he has plenty of weight.
The Gosdens run Roi de France, who is a consistent sort, ran second last month on the all-weather at Newcastle, but he also has plenty of weight and may find 7f on the sharp side.
I like Ed Walker’s English Oak, who was a course and distance winner at last year’s Royal Ascot. He can be placed despite his weight.
Harry Charlton’s Ten Pounds was a winner at Newmarket last month, adding to last season’s successes, but he has risen in the handicap since that victory.
There is an Irish raider, Gleneagle Bay, trained by Stephen Thorne, who finished as runner-up in his last three contests last year. He finished 5th on his seasonal reappearance at the Curragh in March.
David Menuisier’s Metaverse is upped in class after winning at Kempton last month, but this is tougher.
I like the look of Quirat and Myal. Ralph Beckett’s Qirat won twice at Goodwood last term and is making his seasonal reappearance. Steph Hollinshead’s Myal, who ran up a four-timer last season, completed a fine victory at Haydock last month and looks able to defy a penalty here.
The 3.15 is the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap, a Class 3 race run over 1m 4f. Richard Hannon also has the top weight here with Houstonn, whose only victory came in a small race at Windsor last July. He raced in Class 2s at the end of last season without success, but drops back in class here.
Andrew Balding’s Turquino won on both of his starts, but they were lowly contests on the all-weather. It remains to be seen how he performs on turf.
Dylan Cunha’s Fireblade has run consistently on all-weather and ran well to win on turf at Leicester last month. He can step up in class to be placed.
RF Brookhouse’s My Dream World won a small race at Haydock last season, then went on to be placed in a Class 3 at Sandown, but this is tougher.
My preference is for Gary & Josh Moore’s Kotari, who won this race last year. He was upped in class after that without success, but he has been aimed at this race after a prep run at Epsom last month. He is due to carry 2 lbs less than last year.
At Lingfield, the 1.50 is the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap. This Class 4 race is run over 1m 2f. Top weight is D & C Cubler’s Hamlet’s Night. This French import was only beaten a neck at Haydock last month, and a bold run is expected despite top weight.
Charlie Johnson’s Mister Daydream has notched up two wins already this season at Beverley and Hamilton. He steps up a grade here and will find this tougher.
Roger Varian’s Fox Avatar won a small race at Beverley last season but was unplaced on his seasonal reappearance at Chelmsford’s all-weather.
James Evan’s Croeso Cymraeg won two small races on soft/heavy going last season but when upped in class was soundly beaten at Nottingham.
I like the look of Heather Main’s Mostawaa, who was victorious at Epsom last year and then finished fourth on the same track in April. A better run is expected.
Moving to the mixed meeting at Haydock and changing codes, the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle is at 1.35. This is a Class 1 Premier Handicap run over 1m 7 1/2f.
Harry Derham’s Givemefive is saddled with top weight after finishing the season with two fine victories at Newcastle and here at Haydock last month over this distance, but the weight may hold him back.
Dan Skelton’s She’s A Saint won at Aintree at the beginning of April but was unable to follow up subsequently.
Chris Gordon’s Our Champ’s latest run after a busy season was third place in the Sussex Champion Hurdle. He needs to drop down the handicap.
Tom Lacey’s Glory And Fortune finished his season with a victory at Chepstow last month, but this is a major step up in class.
It’s a similar story with Jonjo O’Neill’s Anyharminasking, who won at Newcastle last month. This is much tougher.
Nicky Henderson’s Goblet Of Fire looks the answer here. He is a fast ground horse, has won twice last season at Southwell and latterly Hereford. He is on a good handicap mark and is from a top-class yard. He ticks the boxes.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.40 Ascot. Myal
3.15 Ascot. Kotari
1.50 Lingfield. Mostawaa
1.35 Haydock. Goblet Of Fire
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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