Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
This week we have televised racing from two of the best jumping tracks in the country, Haydock and Ascot with the Betfair Chase at the Merseyside track being the highlight of the day. The disappointment about Saturday’s cards in the low turn-out at both meetings with perhaps trainers and owners being frightened off by some of the best horses in training turning out at both meetings.
These include last year’s Betfair Chase and Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard, Supreme Novices winner and Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill and the top novice chaser and Brown Advisory Plate winner L’Homme Presse. But there are a couple of handicaps on offer at Haydock and one at Ascot that looks quite competitive and I have looked at these to help find the selections for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Haydock. Findthetime
2.25 Haydock. Complete Unknown
3.35 Haydock. Fontaine Collonges
3.15 Ascot. Frero Banbou
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The 1.15 at Haydock takes place just before the programme goes on air but I will put it in this week’s bet as it looks like an interesting race. Run over 2m 3f and entitled the Extra Places Any Day With Betfair Handicap Hurdle, Jennie Candish has the top weight Cheddleton who ran consistently well last season without tasting success, his weight will be a factor.
Michael and David Easterby run Albert’s Back who was only beaten a neck at Wetherby last month. He can go close.
It’s hard not to like Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud on last season’s form in France where he won twice but perhaps on his first run for his new stable, he is probably best watched.
Stainsby Girl from Neil Alexander’s yard won twice at Kelso at the end of last season before moving stables. She can go well with her new trainer.
But I like Nicky Richards’s Findthetime who finished off last term with a hat-trick of wins. I feel he will improve further this season.
The 2.25 is the Betfair Exchange Stayers Handicap Hurdle run over a distance of a little over 3 miles. Charles Byrnes’s Run For Oscar has his first run over hurdles since winning the Cesarewitch last month. He was a dual winner over hurdles last season but has plenty of weight.
Sam Thomas’s Good Risk At All has won already this season- at Carlisle last month – where he beat Wholestone and Ailie Rose. I expect him to confirm those placings and he should hit the frame here.
Harry Fry’s Might I is the current favourite after his strong showing in an Aintree Grade 1 last April but he represents no value at his current price.
Dan Skelton’s Get A Tonic had a fine season last time finishing off with a victory at Ayr where she was left in the clear at the last and was just able to hold on. I expect her to run a big race.
But I have a preference for Paul Nicholls’s Complete Unknown who won a Grade 3 at Sandown last March and although he could only finish second on his final outing, he ran well in defeat and can begin this season with a victory here.
The final race on the Haydock card is the 3.35, the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase run over just under 3m 2f. Top weight is Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Good Boy Bobby who finished down the field on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot last month. He is aimed at next year’s Grand National and needs to drop down the handicap to feature in races like this.
Richard Hobson’s Lord Du Mesnil loves it here at Haydock having won here three times. He had a good spin at Bangor earlier this month finishing second and can be placed again here.
Joe Tizzard’s The Big Breakaway’s form dropped off last season. His second was in match, and he is probably best watched.
Henry Daly’s horses have shown good form recently and Rapper can go well here even though he disappointed on his first run of the season. He can be placed at a nice price.
Venetia Williams sends out Fontaine Collonges for his seasonal reappearance after two fine wins last term with wins at Lingfield and Warwick. She is upped in trip here, something she was crying out for last term.
Moving south to Ascot and the 3.15 is the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase run over a sharp 2m 1f. Alan King’s Edwardstone is the obvious favourite here after winning five times last season but he wants plenty of give in the ground and can be opposed.
Paul Nicholls’s Thyme White ran a fine race to win here at Ascot three weeks ago and he is sure to go close again.
Second that day was Venetia Williams’s Frero Banbou who was no match for the winner after hitting two out. But he is 7lbs better off with the winner and that may be enough to tip the balance.
Before Midnight and Amoola Gold, we’re both beaten in that race and they would have to improve markedly to feature here.
Jamie Snowden’s Kiltealy Briggs has begun this season with a victory at Market Rasen and can go on to another successful term but not, I’m afraid, here.
Harry Fry’s Boothill was successful at Newton Abbot last month but this is much tougher. His trainer will find him easier opportunities as the season progresses.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Haydock. Findthetime
2.25 Haydock. Complete Unknown
3.35 Haydock. Fontaine Collonges
3.15 Ascot. Frero Banbou
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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