Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Just to prove not all the fine racing takes place at Cheltenham, this Saturday we have two very competitive meetings being televised from Kempton and Uttoxeter.
Three handicaps are being shown from Kempton and four handicaps from Uttoxeter, one of which is the Class 1 Midlands Grand National Chase, which I have summarised below. These seven races prove that not all exciting racing needs to be Class 1s. The bread and butter of this great sport also offers some compelling action.
So here are my thoughts for this week and Saturday’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Uttoxeter. Jagwar
2.25 Uttoxeter. White Rhino
3.00 Uttoxeter. My Silver Lining
2.10 Kempton. Harbour Lake
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
It’s a big day in the Midlands with Uttoxeter staging its biggest day of the year and I’ll begin there with the 1.50 the Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle a Class 3 contest run over 2m 4f. Top weight is Dan Skelton’s Santos Blue who won at Wetherby in January but then disappointed in a Class 2 at Ascot last month. He drops back in class and can go well.
Emma Lavelle’s Cantry Bay comes here after two wins this season, including the last time out at Ludlow last month, but this is a step up to a Class 3. He could, however, be placed.
Trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero had multiple entries for Jagwar but they have chosen to come here for this race after he won at Carlisle last month. His jumping can be an issue but he is handicapped to win this.
At 2.25, it is the bet365 Handicap Hurdle. This is a Class 2 race run over just short of 3 miles. Top weight here is Robert Walford’s Hititi, who won three times at the end of last season. This season, he has been runner-up on his last three outings. He should go close, but he has plenty of weight.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Saint Davy will probably go off favourite after his fine victory in a Grade 3 contest at Sandown in early February, a race in which Tanganyika fell. With only one defeat in six outings, he is the one to beat.
Dan Skelton’s Punta Del Este won easily at Haydock in December then disappointed when pulled up at the same track last month. I think he is best watched.
Venetia Williams’s Tanganyika won in a canter at Newbury at the beginning of this month after his fall at Sandown but he will not get such an easy lead here.
Classic Concorde runs for David Bruce and his six victories this season show. He is a force to be reckoned with. His last two wins have been at Chepstow in Class 2 races and his trainer is hoping for a good run here.
But I like another Greenall and Guerriero horse, White Rhino. He was a winner at Cheltenham in December and ran third at Huntingdon in January after hitting two out. He has dodged the Festival to come here and looks the answer in a tricky contest.
The highlight of the day is at 3.00 the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase a Class 1 run over a marathon 4m 2f. Jonjo O’Neill’s Iron Bridge is the likely favourite after running second in the Welsh National at Chepstow in December. He then ran third in heavy ground at Haydock last month, he is sure to go close.
Fergal O’Brien’s Autonomous Cloud won here at Uttoxeter last March and November before being pulled up in the Welsh National after bleeding from the nose. He is probably best watched.
Lucinda Russell runs Inis Oirr, who won at Musselburgh last month in a Class 2; this is much tougher.
The indomitable Willie Mullins has a runner here with Mr Incredible who was last seen on a racecourse at Aintree in last year’s Grand National. He unseated his rider when his saddle slipped at the 24th fence. He was going well at the time and this race is a prep run for a return to Liverpool. He may find it difficult to haul 12st around here, and he hasn’t won since November 2021 but the Mullins factor gives him a chance.
My preference is for Emma Lavelle’s My Silver Lining who has won twice this season including a Grade 3 at Warwick in January. She was a fine second behind an Irish raider at Haydock in another Grade 3 last month and has the credentials to be successful in this prestigious contest.
Finally, the 2.10 at Kempton is the Read Nicky Henderson’s Exclusive Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle a Class 2 race run over 2m 5f. Top weight is Dan Skelton’s West Balboa who won at Aintree in November after winning a Grade 3 there last April. He drops back to handicap company and has every chance here.
Skelton has two more runners, Kateira, who was second in a Listed race here at Kempton in November, and Boombawn, who won at Aintree in May; both are not without a chance.
Paul Nicholls has two in this, Hugos New Horse who has not shown last season’s form – he was pulled up in a Grade 2 at Newbury last time and is best watched – and Irish Hill who has not shown last season’s form, however, he has dropped down the handicap.
Alastair Ralph’s Welsh Charger has won his last two, both small Class 4 contests. This is a major step up. I will side with Alan King’s Harbour Lake, who has not taken to chasing and returns to the smaller obstacles where he was running in Graded company. This dropback may reignite his love of the game.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Uttoxeter. Jagwar
2.25 Uttoxeter. White Rhino
3.00 Uttoxeter. My Silver Lining
2.10 Kempton. Harbour Lake
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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