Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
As the weather increases its icy grip on the country, the likely of jump racing is rapidly diminishing with inspections at Haydock and Taunton tomorrow. The scene at Ascot is slightly better with the ground currently declared raceable under the covers but a possible heavy frost over the next couple of nights could scupper their chances.
ITV are currently looking to rejig their schedules, and if their two Saturday meetings at Haydock and Ascot are scrubbed, they are preparing to shift their attention to Taunton and the all-weather meeting at Lingfield where the race times have already been changed to accommodate the television schedules.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.40 Haydock. Johnson’s Blue
3.15 Haydock. Famous Bridge
2.25 Ascot. Ga Law
3.00 Ascot. Asta La Pasta
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Haydock inspects at 4.00 pm on Thursday so I don’t think they are very hopeful that the frost will come out of the ground. However, they are due to have three races televised – a novice hurdle and two handicaps and it’s the handicaps that interest me.
At 2.40 there is the Skybet Handicap Hurdle a Class 3 contest run over 3m 1/2f. The top weight here is Fergal O’Brien’s Alaphilippe who is a course and distance winner. He was last seen before Christmas running third at Leicester.
Dan Skelton’s Punta Del Este won here at Haydock at the end of December over 2m 3f he is upped in trip today.
I like Mark Walford’s Johnson’s Blue who was a course and distance winner 11 months ago he has not been seen since September when he unseated his rider when every chance at Kelso.
The big race of the day is at 3.15, the Skybet Peter Marsh Chase a Class 1 run over 3m 1 1/2f.
Venetia Williams’s has won this race on the last two occasions and returns to try for a hat-trick of wins. He won the Betfair Chase here in November but must give his nearest rival a massive 21lbs.
Nicky Richard’s Famous Bridge also loves it round here with two wins already this season over this distance. This is a step up in class but with almost a two-stone advantage over the favourite, it is a great chance for him to gain Class 1 status.
Ascot inspects at 8.00 am on Friday and ITV hopes to show four races from the Berkshire track, including the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase where El Fabiolo is odds-on to claim the prize.
The 2.25 is the bet365 Handicap Chase, a Class 2 contest run over 2m 5f where Nicky Henderson’s Excello is one of the favourites after winning over this course and distance just before Christmas.
The other favourite is Paul Nicholls’s Brave Kingdom who has won both his contests this season, he steps up in class here.
I like Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law who was a Grade 3 winner last season he has been highly tried since and drops back to handicap company for the first time this season.
At 3.00 it is the Bet MGM Handicap Hurdle, a Class 2 run over 2m 3 1/2f where Gary Moore’s Spirit d’Aunou looks to continue his winning ways after winning at Sandown in December.
Tom Symond’s Issam was an Exeter winner just before Christmas, this is tougher.
Asta La Pasta won at Exeter on Boxing Day. He moves up in class here but looks on a handy mark for trainer Dan Skelton who can do no wrong at present.
Looking at Lingfield my selections are 1.25 Amazing. 2.00 Fantastic Fox. 2.35 Alligator Alley. 3.10 Queen Regent.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.40 Haydock. Johnson’s Blue
3.15 Haydock. Famous Bridge
2.25 Ascot. Ga Law
3.00 Ascot. Asta La Pasta
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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