Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
After all the excitement of the Grade 1’s at Cheltenham, we still have two fine meetings to look forward to at Uttoxeter and Kempton this Saturday. The ITV cameras are at Uttoxeter for four races, including the Midlands Grand National which is backed up with three fine handicaps giving plenty to choose from.
Meanwhile, Kempton has three televised races all of which are also handicaps giving us the unusual afternoon’s racing of seven races with no Graded races just handicaps so there should be plenty of value to be found amongst these contests and here are my thoughts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Kempton. Harbour Lake
2.40 Kempton. Mister Fisher
2.25 Uttoxeter. Ballygrifincottage
3.00 Uttoxeter. Tile Tapper
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
At Kempton, where there is a cracking card, I will start with the 2.05 the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle run over 2m 5f. Top weight here is Chris Gordon’s Press Your Luck who won this last year however he has 10lbs more to carry than last time. He was a fine winner at Wincanton last month under 12st. He must go close.
Gary Moore’s Yorksea was fourth here in the Betfair Hurdle but I’m not sure he will get this extra distance.
Outlaw Peter is Paul Nicholls representative. He won in novice company at Wincanton at the beginning of this month, more is required.
Harry Fry’s Lady Adare tasted defeat for the first time at Taunton in January after rattling up a hat-trick last season however this is a big step up in class.
I like Alan King’s Harbour Lake who would prefer better going than when he was pulled up here last month. Last season’s form shows he is better than that.
At 2.40 it is the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase which is run at just under 2m 5f. Top weight here is Venetia Williams’s Brave Seasca who won at Aintree in December. Since then he has run twice at Cheltenham without success. This could be a prep run for Aintree next month.
Paul Nicholls’s Complete Unknown steps up from novice company here and looks outclassed.
Fidelity Vallis trained by Harry Derham is having only his second run of the season after running second at Musselburgh in February, he will go close.
Jane Williams’s Galahad Quest was a fine winner at Warwick last month but finds himself raised 7lbs for that win.
The class horse here is Nicky Henderson’s Mister Fisher who is a multi-Grade 2 winner. He is having his first run since being pulled up here at the Christmas meeting and should be back on song to take this.
Moving North to Uttoxeter and the 2.25 is the Perfect Payroll Handicap Hurdle run at just under 3 miles. I’ll start at the bottom of the handicap with Christian Williams’s Lord Snootie who relished the soft going at Warwick in December and came home by over 4 lengths. A reproduction of that form will see him go close.
I like Brian Barr’s Lynwood Gold who won at Lingfield in November then last month ran well but was held when falling at the last. He can be placed here.
Kim Bailey’s Trelawne has not been seen since winning at Ffos Las in November. This step up in class and distance may be too much to ask.
I give Ballygrifincottage another chance after being pulled up at Wetherby last month when odds-on favourite. He bled from the nose that day but if he has overcome those problems he should have no trouble winning here.
Uttoxeter’s big race of the season is at 3.00, the Boulton Group Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase run over a gruelling 4m 2f. Top weight and probable favourite is Sam Thomas’s Iwilldoit who won the Welsh National at Chepstow in 2021 and followed that up with a fine victory at Warwick this January. But he has a lot of weight to carry here.
French Paradoxe trained by Oliver Signy has won twice this season latterly at Newcastle in January. He can go close.
Ben Clarke’s The Galloping Bear was a fine second in the Eider at Newcastle last month and is capable of going one better here.
Nicky Martin’s The Two Amigos won the Welsh National at Chepstow in December. His first victory since 2019. I just can’t see him winning here.
Alan King runs two, Notachance and Major Dundee. I think the trainer would be pleased if either are placed.
I will side with Chris Honour’s Tile Tapper who won at Carlisle last month. He is well handicapped here and could well spring a surprise.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Kempton. Harbour Lake
2.40 Kempton. Mister Fisher
2.25 Uttoxeter. Ballygrifincottage
3.00 Uttoxeter. Tile Tapper
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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