Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Jump racing is put in abeyance this week as the first big flat meeting of the year takes precedence. The Lincoln meeting at Doncaster always heralds that the codes are about to change with just the National meetings in England and Scotland to come so completing the jumps season.
So the television cameras are at Doncaster for four races, including the first big handicap of the season- the Lincoln. This is backed up by the Sprint Mile, which features horses that were eliminated from the Lincoln at the 48 hour stage.
To complete ITV’s Saturday afternoon coverage they are featuring three races on the Polytrack at Kempton, including the Magnolia Stakes and the Queen’s Prize. So we have seven races in all to look forward to, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Doncaster. Arthur’s Realm
3.00 Doncaster. Fast Response
3.35 Doncaster. Jimi Hendrix
2.40 Kempton. My Mate Ted
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning with the 2.25 at Doncaster the Pertemps Network Spring Mile Handicap, which is for horses that were ballotted out of the Lincoln Handicap. One of the top weights is David O’Meara’s Zozimus who finished last season running twice in Ireland without success. However, prior to those runs, he had finished a creditable fourth at Newmarket in September.
Charlie Johnson’s The Gatekeeper won at Newcastle at the beginning of March but has a 5lbs penalty for that victory and that may hold him back.
Raising Sand has proved something of an Ascot specialist for trainer Jamie Osbourne with five victories at the Berkshire course. He comes here as the most successful horse in the field. However, he is an 11-year-old now.
Several of these runners have been running on the all-weather with varying degrees of success but one has had just one prep run at Newcastle a fortnight ago finishing sixth. That horse was Ed Dunlop’s Arthur’s Realm who won this last year and returns for another crack at it. It is a notoriously difficult race to win once never mind twice but he looks the best horse in the field.
The 3.00 is the Pertemps Network Cammidge Trophy Stakes, a 6 furlong Listed race. Andrew Balding runs the King’s horse King’s Lynn here but he disappoints too often for me, so I reluctantly pass him over.
Kevin Burke’s El Caballo won four times last season, three of which were on the all-weather, before trying his luck in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot where he trailed in over 12 lengths behind the winner.
Richard Hannon’s Ehraz was sixth in that race, three and a half lengths behind, and he finished his season off with a victory at Newmarket he can go close here.
There is another Burke runner who won twice here at Town Moor in Oct/Nov and that is Fast Response who is expected to go really well at a course he loves. One of the horses he beat last November is the top-class handicapper, Michael Dods’s Commanche Falls, who I also expect to run a decent race and be placed at a nice price.
The Pertemps Network Lincoln is at 3.35 and this famous handicap run over the straight mile at Town Moor has provided a top-class field as usual.
Top weight is David Menuisier’s Migration who finished off last season running a fair fourth in a Listed race at Newmarket however top weights have a poor record in this race.
Charlie Fellowes’s Atrium finished off last season with a win here at Doncaster in September and I expect him to go well.
William Haggas’s Al Mubhir is the bookie’s choice and he is another who rounded off last season with a victory, that was at Haydock in a Class 3 Handicap, he steps up in class here.
Charles Hills’ Wanees also won at Haydock last September in a much better race and I expect him to go close.
Jack Channon’s Majestic has just sneaked into the handicap after a fine season last year for Jack’s father Mick. He won twice and was only out of the frame twice in six further contests. He is another I expect to go well.
I have a liking for the outsider Jimi Hendrix trained by Ralph Beckett. He won twice last season then his form tailed off. He has been gelded during the winter and looks an excellent prospect here. He is well handicapped and four-year-olds do well in this race so it’s Jimi Hendrix to provide a winning tune.
For the final leg of my Lucky Fifteen, I go to the Polytrack at Kempton the bet@racingtv.com Handicap a one-mile contest. Top weight is Robyn Brisland’s Naval Commander who is certainly no stranger to this course. He won here in November 2021 but has been unsuccessful in four attempts here since.
Sean Curran’s Business won at Wolverhampton in a 4-runner contest in January, this is tougher.
A winner here at the beginning of March was Shaun Lycett’s Stately Home and he could well follow up here.
Roger Teal has a couple in the lineup, Bear Force One who has been unsuccessful on the all-weather after four victories on turf, and My Mate Ted who won here at Kempton last August then ran a good second at Windsor in October.
I expect My Mate Ted to put up a good performance on his first outing of the season at a nice price.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 Doncaster. Arthur’s Realm
3.00 Doncaster. Fast Response
3.35 Doncaster. Jimi Hendrix
2.40 Kempton. My Mate Ted
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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