Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A mixture of codes once again this week, with four flat races from Musselburgh and three from the jumps card at Haydock. The unusual fact is that all seven of the televised races are handicaps, the Musselburgh card features two Class 2s and two Class 3s, with the highlight being the 1m 6f Queen’s Cup.
Meanwhile, Haydock stages its final fully jumps meeting of the season before the start of their flat programme later this month. The three races being shown are all Class 2 contests, including the Veterans Chase Final, so there’s something for everyone. Here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Musselburgh. Rockymountainway
3.00 Musselburgh. American Affair
3.35 Musselburgh. Wild Waves
3.15 Haydock. Le Milos
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Musselburgh with the 2.25, the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Silver Arrow Handicap is a Class 3 race run over 7 furlongs. The current favourite is William Haggas’s Waleefy, who had a very consistent season last year, winning on two occasions in Class 4 company.
Katie Scott’s Gweedore has won five times here at Musselburgh and ran second here earlier this month. He can hit the frame once again.
Charlie Fellowes’s Rockymountainway came good at the end of last season, winning two of his final four races and was runner-up in the other two. A bold run is expected.
Top weight Alzahir, trained by Jennie Candish, is on a hat-trick after two wins in Class 4 company. This is tougher. I just side with Rockymountainway to continue his winning ways.
The 3.00 is the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap, this Class 2 contest is run over the track’s sharp 5 furlongs. Jim Goldie’s American Affair had a fine season last year, moving through the ranks to claim two Class 2s, beating several he meets here at Doncaster in September. He can confirm that victory.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s Cover Up has top weight. He has wintered in the Middle East and has run four times and won once. His weight may be a problem.
David & Nicola Barron’s Jer Batt was second behind Cover Up at Doncaster last October and is 4lbs better off here.
Kevin Ryan’s Mon Na Slieve was a course and distance winner earlier this month, but is upped in class here and will find this much tougher.
The big betting race of the day is at 3:35, the Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup Handicap. This Class 2 race is run over 1m 6f. Top weight is Karl Burke’s Almeric, who finished last season as runner-up in a Listed race on the all-weather at Kempton in November, but he has plenty of weight.
Adam Nicol’s Wise Eagle won this in 2023 but has not won since. He is fit from hurdling, but may find some of these too good for him.
Charlie Johnson’s Align The Stars ran up a hat-trick last summer and finished third in a Listed company earlier this month. A bold run is expected.
Adrian Keatley’s Kinavah finished last season with a victory at Ayr. He is another who is fit from hurdling, but looks high enough in the handicap to me.
My preference is for Andrew Balding’s Wild Waves, who was last seen running in the St Leger. He won at Doncaster earlier in the season, and this drop back to handicap company should be noted.
For the final leg of this week’s bet, I move to the jumps meeting at Haydock, and the 3.15 is the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans Handicap Chase. This is a Class 2 contest run over 2m 4f. The current favourite and top weight is Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen, who was last seen running in the Topham at Aintree. He finished down the field that day and has plenty of weight to carry here.
Heather Main’s Numitor was a fine winner at Ascot in March and can go close here.
Nick Alexander’s Dubai Days was a course and distance winner in February, having The Flyer Begley and Whistleinthedark behind him that day. I expect him to confirm those placings.
Another Tizzard runner is near the bottom of the handicap. The Widdow Maker was a winner at Exeter in March but is upped in class here and will find this tougher.
Dan Skelton’s Le Milos is a past Grade 3 winner and won a fine race at Warwick in February. He was last seen running in a Class 1 at Aintree earlier this month, and he has the class to take this.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Musselburgh. Rockymountainway
3.00 Musselburgh. American Affair
3.35 Musselburgh. Wild Waves
3.15 Haydock. Le Milos
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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