Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The Betfair Chase at Haydock is ranked third of the great chases of the season behind only the King George and the Gold Cup itself, and it is part of a particularly fine card at Haydock on Saturday.
ITV Racing are covering five races from the Merseyside course on Saturday that include three Class 2s and two Class 1s, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase and a Stayers Hurdle, exciting stuff.
This fine card is backed up by three fine races from Ascot, including two Class 1s and a Class 2. So, we have eight fine contests to choose from this week from two of our premier tracks, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
3.20 Ascot. Sans Bruit
2.30 Haydock. Gwennie May Boy
3.05 Haydock. Royale Pagaille
3.40 Haydock. Prairie Wolf
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
At Ascot the 3.20 is the Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase, this Class 2 Chase is run over 2m 1f. The worthy favourite is Venetia Williams’s Martator. He finished off last season with a treble and then won on his seasonal reappearance at the beginning of this month over this course and distance in a Grade 3 contest, but he has risen 6lbs. So he may not have everything his way.
George and Zetterholm run Marvel de Cerisy, who has won twice at Auteuil already this season and brings top class French form here.
Robert Walford’s Prince Quali won twice at Chepstow at the end of last season after also having a fine career in France, but he is probably best watched on his first run of the season.
Dan Skelton’s Harper’s Brook was pulled up at Aintree earlier this month and was found to have bled from the nose. He is another best watched.
My preference is for Paul Nicholls’s Sans Bruit, who is yet another French import. He won at Aintree at the end of last season but was beaten 8 lengths at Exeter on his first run this season. That was in a Grade 2, and this drop into handicap company should see him get off the mark for the year.
Moving north to the big meeting at Haydock Park, the 2.30 is the Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle, a Class 1 Premier Handicap run over 3m 1/2f. The obvious favourite here is Dan Skelton’s Doyen Quest, who won well at Cheltenham last week but has a 5lb penalty for that win, and that might hold him back.
The Irish challenger Shoot First, trained by Charles Byrnes, is high in the handicap after running 5th at Galway in October. That was his first run since winning at Cheltenham in October 2022.
Ruth Jefferson’s Kerryhill won a Class 1 novice hurdle at Doncaster in January and is having his first run of the season.
Another Skelton runner is Gwennie May Boy, who won three times at the end of last season, including a Grade 3 at Aintree. That is very good form.
Another Irish runner is Emmett Mullins’ Backmersackme, who has run four times this term without success.
Yet another Skelton runner is Catch Him Derry, who won at Newton Abbot on his seasonal reappearance last month but steps up in class here.
So Skelton seems to hold all the cards, and I take Gwennie May Boy to continue the trainer’s winning sequence.
There is a top class field for the Betfair Chase at 3.05, this Group 1 is run over 3m 1 1/2f. Venetia Williams’s Royale Pagaille returns to defend the crown he won last year. He fell in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He was disputing the lead when coming down two out and has a great record here at Haydock, winning four from five.
The current favourite is Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning who won the Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March then ran third on his final run of the season, lack of a run prior to this race could be a problem.
One who has had a previous run is Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor, who ran third at Aintree last month.
Paul Nicholls runs Bravemansgame who was a well beaten second last year. He seems to be making a habit of being runner-up.
Patrick Neville’s The Real Whacker won the Charlie Hall at Wetherby earlier this month, but this is a step further.
There are three Irish runners and the best of which is probably Hewick trained by JJ Hanlon. He won the King George last December but has been unsuccessful since despite going very close in Grade 1 contests.
So, with the threat of rain at Haydock, Royale Pagaille looks like he will get the ground he loves and that, along with his record at the course, gives him every chance of regaining the trophy.
Finally, we come to the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at 3.40 Class 2 contest over 3m 1 1/2f. The top weight here is Dan Skelton’s Le Milos, who ran a fair 5th at Cheltenham last month. He needs to drop down the handicap to feature in a race as competitive as this.
Venetia Williams’s Fontaine Collonges won at Wetherby last Boxing Day. He then ran poorly at Warwick in January, and this is his first run since. He is best watched.
Ann Hamilton’s Dare To Shout won at Carlisle earlier this month, but this is tougher.
Paul Nicholls runs Take Your Time, who won his final race of last season at Ffos Las in April and has a good record first time out. He will go close.
Robert Walford’s Hititi is another who can go close after a fine second at Chepstow in October, but my preference is for Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith’s Prairie Wolf, who won three times last season and ran in a Grade 3 at Wetherby at the beginning of the month where he was eased when beaten. He drops back in class here and can take his chance.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
3.20 Ascot. Sans Bruit
2.30 Haydock. Gwennie May Boy
3.05 Haydock. Royale Pagaille
3.40 Haydock. Prairie Wolf
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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