Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The weather is playing havoc with Saturday’s racing, and as I write this on Thursday, we have already lost Warwick and Wetherby to the freezing conditions.
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Kempton is still in the balance, and I have included three races from there, along with a selection from the Newcastle all-weather card, where the racing has been brought forward to fit into ITV Racing’s programme.
In the sad event of Kempton being lost to the frost, I have included a reserve Lucky Fifteen covering the first four races from Newcastle, so here are my thoughts, along with a couple of Lucky Fifteens. Stay safe, everyone and good luck for the weekend
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.10 Kempton. Hunter Legend
2.42 Kempton. Pic d’Orhy
3.18 Kempton. Il Va de Soi
3.10 Newcastle. Cuban Lynx
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Kempton with the 2.10 Coral “Pipped At The Post” And Win Handicap Chase, this is a Class 2 contest run over 3 miles. Top weight here is David Pipe’s Remastered who after winning at Wincanton in October has tipped up on his last two outings latterly in a Grade 3 where he was tiring when he fell. His weight is a problem.
Toby Lewes’ Surrey Quest is another who lost his rider last time. That was last month at Newbury. He had previously run a fine second in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham. He is a contender.
Mel Rowley sends Kyntara for his second run of the season after finishing 4th at Newbury just before Christmas.
Roccovango has won three times already this season for trainer Olly Murphy and he was only beaten a nose on his other outing. He will go close.
I prefer Venetia Williams’s Hunter Legend after his victory at Leicester last month. The stable is on top form at present and this gelding can continue the stable’s good run.
The 2.42 is the Grade 2 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase, which is run over 2m 4 1/2f. Such a shame there are only four entries.
Paul Nicholls’s has two of the runners, one of which is the very warm favourite Pic d’Orhy, who is a dual Grade 1 winner, and he won a Grade 2 at Ascot in November on his only run this season.
Nicholls’s other runner is Hitman, who has been highly tried but has been unsuccessful since winning at Haydock in 2022.
Dan Skelton’s Unexpected Party won a Grade 2 at the Cheltenham Festival but has been unsuccessful so far this season.
Venetia Williams’s Martator had run up a string of five victories, including a Grade 3 since March, but that sequence came to a shuddering halt at Kempton in a Grade 2 at the end of last month. It is the top-rated Pic d’Orhy for me.
The Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle is run over 2m 5f, and this Class 2 is the big betting race of the day. The current favourite is one of the top weights, Nicky Henderson’s Impose Toi, who ran third in this last season with 9lbs less on his back. He did win well on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury in November.
Harry Fry’s Beat The Rat runs very consistently and was second at Haydock in November on his first run of the season. He seems to find one too good too often.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Jipcot was a fine winner at Newbury at the end of last month after a breathing op, and he can go well again.
Dan Skelton’s Santos Blue won twice last season and ran 5th at Doncaster in December in preparation for this.
Another who had a prep run after two wins last season is Harry Derham’s Il Va de Soi who was 5th at Cheltenham in November. He steps up in class here but can go well off his low weight.
In a quick rundown of the Newcastle races, at 2.00, the race looks between Sol Cayo, who won here in December and Midnight Lion, who was victorious on New Year’s Day at this venue. I go for the Midnight Lion, who is on a hat-trick.
At 2.35, Dash Gordon was victorious here last October, while Lady Of The Garr has been third here at Newcastle on the last two occasions. I take Tracy Waggott’s charge to get her nose in front.
The 3.10 features Studious, who won at Wolverhampton in December. However, top weight may be a problem.
I prefer Michael Appleby’s Cuban Lynx, who ran second here in December then was a third at Wolverhampton earlier this month. He can improve on those placings.
At 3.45, Michael Wigham’s Lahab was a beaten favourite here at Newcastle earlier this month, finishing third.
Another beaten favourite was Ben Haslam’s Volenti who was on a hat-trick when beaten into 6th here last month. He can gain recompense this time.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.10 Kempton. Hunter Legend
2.42 Kempton. Pic d’Orhy
3.18 Kempton. Il Va de Soi
3.10 Newcastle. Cuban Lynx
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Reserve Newcastle Lucky Fifteen
2.00 Midnight Lion
2.35 Lady Of The Garr
3.10 Cuban Lynx
3.45 Volenti
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