Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Two of my favourite courses stage meetings this Saturday, Ascot and Haydock, and both have Class 1 races for us to look forward to.
Haydock is the main ITV Racing meeting with no fewer than five races being televised and these include the Grade 1 Betfair Chase where Protektorat makes his seasonal reappearance to try and win the race for the second year in succession, also on the card is another Class 1 Premier Handicap backed up by three Class 2 contests.
At Ascot there are three televised races, two Class 1 Graded races and a Class 2, the disappointment on both cards is the number of entries.
Finally, ITV are showing a Grade 1 from Punchestown where Willie Mullins’s State Man makes his first appearance of the season in a race he won last year. So with so much to look forward to here are my thoughts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Haydock. Park Hill Dancer
2.20 Haydock. Gowel Road
3.35 Haydock. Credo
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Haydock with the 1.15 the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle a Class 2 contest run over 2m 3f. Donald McCain’s Lunar Power won a small race in May and comes here after a summer break, he has plenty of weight.
Peter Atkinson’s Fingal’s Hill won at Carlisle earlier this month to complete a four-timer. He meets tougher opposition here.
Luttrell Lad was a summer winner for trainer Tom Lacey but it remains to be seen if he copes with the soft going.
We have an Irish raider, S R Crawford’s Park Annonciade who won at Ayr earlier this month but this is a major step up in class.
My preference is for Nicky Henderson’s Park Hill Dancer who won twice in the spring. He is reported to have summered well and his trainer should always be respected when sending a horse to Haydock.
The Betfair ‘Serial Winners’ Stayers Handicap Hurdle is at 2.20 this is a Grade 3 run over 3m 1/2f. Fergal O’Brien has one of the favourites with Crambo who was a fine winner at Aintree in October but moves into Graded company for the first time.
Top weight is Nicky Henderson’s Bold Endeavour who ran second over this course and distance last May. He ran third at Newbury earlier this month under 12st and the weight could be a problem once again here.
After winning a couple of lowly races in the summer Emmet Mullins’s Slate Lane came out and won a Class 2 at Newton Abbot in September, the Irish raider returns to have a crack in Graded company. I expect him to go close but he meets better horses here.
Alan King’s Emitom was second at Newbury earlier this month almost 10 lengths ahead of Bold Endeavour but his trainer seems uncertain he is ready for this test.
I give a chance to Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Gowel Road who was last seen on a racecourse over 12 months ago when he won at Ascot. He has had his problems but his consistent form means if his trainer has him firing he has the ability to win this.
The 3.35 is the Betfair ‘Free Racing Multiple Today’ Handicap Chase a Class 2 contest run over 3m 1 1/2f. Top weight here is Jack Tudor’s Sidi Ismael who is making his seasonal reappearance. He finished last term with a second at Ffos Las, more is required.
Richard Hobson’s Docpickedme had a run earlier this month finishing second at Warwick. He needs to improve on that run.
Nicky Richards’s Famous Bridge won two races at Wetherby at the end of last season. He ran fourth at Ayr this month when favourite, he may hit the frame.
Evan Williams runs Coconut Splash who has only won once in his career back in 2020. However, he has been consistently placed in his runs, including last month at Wincanton when he was third.
The winner of that Wincanton contest was Anthony Honeyball’s Credo and I expect him to confirm those placings and continue his good form and take this.
Moving south to Ascot at 3.15 it is the Jim Barry Hurst Park Handicap Chase a Class 2 over 2m 1f. Top weight and favourite is Harry Fry’s Boothill who won here at the beginning of this month beating several of the contenders he meets once again here. He has been upped in the handicap and whether he can carry 12st round here in a race he won last year carrying 10st 7lb remains to be seen.
Jane Williams’s Saint Segal was third to Boothill this month and is 7lbs better off that may not be enough.
Chris Gordon’s Aucunrisque won a Grade 3 last February and was last seen running third at Fontwell in October with an inexperienced jockey aboard, he can do better.
Lucinda Russell’s Corrigeen Rock won at Perth in his final race of last season and continued the good work by winning at Kempton in October on his reappearance. He is deservedly upped in class here but may have to settle for a place.
Joe Tizzard’s Triple Trade won at Cheltenham a fortnight ago continuing an upsurge in his form, winning three of his last four. He can make this four from five.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Haydock. Park Hill Dancer
2.20 Haydock. Gowel Road
3.35 Haydock. Credo
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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