Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
No Grade 1s to look forward to this week so unlikely to have the disappointment of scratched horses in top-class races. However, we have some fine handicap contests to look forward to at Cheltenham and Doncaster.
There are five televised races from Cheltenham with a Grade 2 Novice’s hurdle and four good handicaps. To back these up, ITV Racing are covering three further handicaps from Town Moor so there are plenty of races to choose from for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Cheltenham. Fakir d’Oudairies
2.25 Cheltenham. Malina Girl
2.40 Doncaster. Soaring Glory
3.15 Doncaster. Mister Coffey
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
I am taking a break over Christmas so it remains to wish everyone a Really Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. I will return in January. All the best everyone! Seymour Biz.
Beginning with the big race of the day, the 1.50 at Cheltenham the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 contest run over 2m 4 1/2f.
Top weight here is Joseph O’Brien’s Fakir d’Oudairies who is one of three Irish challengers. He is having his first run of the season and was last seen in a Grade 1 at Aintree where he ran second. He won a hurdle race here at Cheltenham back in 2019 and since then, he has won four Grade 1s. Definitely the class horse in the race the question is his weight.
Paul Nicholls has two runners, Monmiral and Il Ridoto, and the latter has shown the better form when he ran third here over this distance last month but more is required.
Olly Murphy’s Thunder Rock won on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle in early November in a Listed contest. He has had some good form over the last three seasons but a big step up would be required to take this.
Venetia Williams’s Frero Banbou ran a good second at Newbury earlier this month but he is not up to this class. So let’s look at the other Irish horses. Gavin Cromwell’s Railway Hurricane has never won outside Ireland. His last two runs have been here at Cheltenham where he has been placed on both occasions in small Class 3 races. He is out of the handicap and it would be a major shock were he to figure.
The other Irish runner is a different kettle of fish, Emmett Mullins’s So Scottish who ran up a quick treble last season prior to running 7th at the Festival. He has had a prep run coming home 4th at Gowran Park and can go close here but I will stick with Fakir d’Oudairies, class will tell.
The 2.25 is the Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 run over 3m 2f. Top weight is Dan Skelton’s Protektorat who won here a couple of times as a novice. He ran fifth in the Gold Cup at the Festival and even though he gives over a stone to his nearest rival is sure to go close.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Broadway Boy is highly fancied after his victory in a Listed race here last month, this is tougher.
Paul Nicholls found it hard to win last season with Threeunderthrufive but he must be hopeful of finding a race for him soon after a fine second at Wincanton last month. I just don’t think it may be here.
NW Alexander’s Elvis Mail unseated his rider at the Festival when coming down from Scotland he has since won twice at Kelso, and his trainer will be hoping he can continue his winning run with better luck at Prestbury Park.
Gavin Cromwell’s Malina Girl won here last month and can follow that up with another victory here for the Irish.
Henry Daly’s Rapper won here last January he has had a break since being pulled up at Kelso and can hit the frame at a nice price.
Moving north to Doncaster at 2.40 it is the bet365 Handicap Hurdle a 2m 1/2f Class 2 contest. Ann Hamilton’s Tommy’s Oscar has top weight after winning twice over this course and distance in his career. He won at Kelso in October prior to running a good fourth in a Grade 2 race at Aintree. He will take all the beating.
Harry Fry’s Gin Coco is one of the favourites after winning at Ascot last month. He has been consistent throughout his career.
The other favourite is Adrian Keatley’s Clear White Light who won here earlier this month beating Jonjo O’Neill’s Soaring Glory into second but O’Neill’s horse is 6lbs better off and can reverse those placings here and take this.
A mention should be made of Jamie Candlish’s Matchless at the bottom of the handicap. He has won at Musselburgh and also ran two fine seconds and this consistent runner can hit the frame at a nice price but it’s Soaring Glory to take this.
The bet365 Handicap Chase is at 3.15, this is a Class 2 contest run over 3 miles. This looks to be a very close contest on paper with a number of runners in with a chance and several are vying for favouritism.
One of which is Dan Skelton’s Sail Away who was a dual winner last season. On his only run this term, he ran fifth at Newbury in early December, more is required.
LJ Morgan’s Whistleinthedark won four times last term and tried his luck in Graded company at Cheltenham last month but was firmly put in his place when beaten by 39 lengths. If he can come back from that, he will go close.
Nicky Henderson’s Mister Coffey has not won for three years but has been running in much better class races than this. He was fourth in a Listed race at Cheltenham last time after losing a shoe. I feel he can take this opportunity.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Cheltenham. Fakir d’Oudairies
2.25 Cheltenham. Malina Girl
2.40 Doncaster. Soaring Glory
3.15 Doncaster. Mister Coffey
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Related Reading