Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
This weekend we have the Cheltenham Autumn Festival with three great days of racing, and Saturday is the pick of the crop with the Class 1 Paddy Power Gold Cup the highlight of the day.
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ITV Racing are covering four races from Prestbury Park that include two Class 1s, a Class 2, and a Class 3, all with good fields anticipated. This card is backed up by a couple of hurdle races from Wetherby a Class 2 and a Class 3. So I have looked through the six races on offer for value, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.20 Cheltenham. Panic Attack
2.55 Cheltenham. Kikiju
3.30 Cheltenham. Royal Rambler
3.10 Cheltenham. Fresh Perspective
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
The big race of the day is the 2.20 at Cheltenham, the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase. This Class 1 Premier Handicap is run over 2 miles 4 furlongs. The top weight and bookies’ favourite is Oliver Greenall and J Guerriero’s Jagwar, who had a tremendous season last year, winning four races, including two here at Cheltenham. Greenall describes him as the best horse they have ever had, but I am mindful of his weight.
There are several Irish contenders, and Gavin Cromwell’s Thecompanysergeant is one of the better ones. He ran a fine second behind Jagwar and the Festival and is just 1 lb better off here.
Paul Nicholls’s Il Ridoto won this last year and had the perfect prep race at Chepstow last month. A bold run is expected.
Vincenzo won twice last season for Sam Thomas at Sandown and Windsor. He needs to be at his very best to figure here.
Henry de Bromhead’s Coming Up Easy won his final two races last season, then won first time out at Killarney in August. He will be suited by any rain.
But I prefer Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack, even though his trainer has juggled him between fences and hurdles. He won over the larger obstacles at Windsor last January and has raced consistently well in his other contests.
Cheltenham’s 2.55 is the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle, a Class 2 race run over 3 miles. Dan Skelton’s Supremely West won at Haydock last season and ran third here at Cheltenham in October in his prep race. He beat Olly Murphy’s Long Draw, who ran 4th in that race.
Further back in the field were Prince Zaltar, Gowel Road, and Patriotik. I expect Supremely West to confirm those placings, but that may not be enough.
Gavin Cromwell’s Londonofficecallin was last seen in June when winning at Punchestown. He can put up a bold performance.
Philip Hobbs’s and Johnson White have an interesting proposition with Kikiju, who won at Newbury last February. He returned to the same course the following month and ran a good second. This season, he ran 4th at Aintree in October, beaten just 4 lengths. Any improvement on that run can see him take this.
The Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle is at 3.30. This is a Class 3 contest run over 2m 5f. The bookmakers’ favourite is David Pipe’s Jurancon, who has by far and away of the best form of anything he meets here. He may even go off odds on. He won his final two races last season, both at Newbury, but he steps up in trip here, and the nuances of Prestbury Park may find him out.
Top weight, Dan Skelton’s Royal Infantry ran third on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last month. His weight is a problem.
Philip Hobbs’s and Johnson White’s French Ship won here last month, but this is much tougher, and he is another with lots of weight.
AJ Martin’s Hamsiyann won this race last year and returns for another crack. However, he has run poorly since that victory, plus he has 9lbs more than last year.
I go with Emma Lavelle’s Royal Rambler, who won at Chepstow in February, then ran a close second at Uttoxeter the following month. Lavelle states he would prefer some rain to improve his chances.
For the final leg, I go to Wetherby and the 3:10 is the Boyle Sports Best Odds Guaranteed “Introductory” Hurdle, a Class 2 race run over 2 miles. This race is for horses that have not run in more than one hurdle.
Harry Derham’s Cueros only moved to his stable last month after moving here from France.
James Snowden’s Fresh Perspective won an NH Flat race at Uttoxeter last season, then won well at Fontwell last month. That form looks sound.
Of the others, Tom Lacey’s Myrighthandman has won on the all-weather, and I have heard some good noises about Edward Bethell’s Minstrel Knight, but I look to the proven form of Fresh Perspective.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.20 Cheltenham. Panic Attack
2.55 Cheltenham. Kikiju
3.30 Cheltenham. Royal Rambler
3.10 Cheltenham. Fresh Perspective
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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