Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The jumps are back! And after last week’s finale to the flat season, some people will say thank goodness.
Cheltenham host their first meeting of the season, and ITV Racing are televising five races from Prestbury Park to whet our appetites for the coming season, with four Class 2s and a Class 3 to start us off. But the flat is not quite done yet, as there are three races from Doncaster being shown. These include the Group 1 Futurity Trophy, the final pointer to next year’s Classics, and further Class 1 and Class 2.
Newbury also features on the ITV schedule, with two Group 3s, making it a busy Saturday with 10 televised races. Here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.45 Cheltenham. Minella Supreme
2.20 Cheltenham. Transmission
2.55 Cheltenham. Long Draw
1.30 Doncaster. Trilby
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Cheltenham with the 1.45, the Play William Hill’s The Final One Standing Novices Hurdle, a Class 2 contest run over 3 miles. An Irish challenger is carrying top weight, Cian Collins’s Sporting Glance, who won at Galway and Downpatrick in September but got no further than the first fence when falling at Galway at the beginning of this month. His weight may be a problem.
Gordon Elliott sends Pour Les Filles over after a win at Downpatrick a fortnight ago, where he romped home by 9 lengths. He is sure to go close.
Also coming from Ireland is John McConnell’s Minella Supreme, who has won twice in his last three outings. He was leading in his penultimate race but fell two out when in front, another leading contender.
To make this a truly international contest, the French challenger is James Grassick’s Sotchi, who is a big outsider after one run over hurdles.
The best of the UK’s contestants could be Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s Conman John, who just got home at Kelso earlier this month and may be placed, but it’s Minella Supreme for me.
The 2.20 is the William Hill Bet Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase, a Class 2 race run over 3m 1f. The current bookmakers’ favourite is Joe Tizzard’s Rock My Way, who ran second in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup at the Festival in March, then ran 5th in a Grade 3 at Ayr the following month. A bold run is expected.
Nicky Henderson runs Hyland, who won twice here last season. He was second in the King George at Kempton, then was pulled up in the Grand National, but he has plenty of weight, and this trip may be on the sharp side.
Emma Lavelle’s King’s Threshold ran up a treble last season and was unluckily hampered on his final outing, causing him to be pulled up.
Dan Skelton’s Hoe Joly Smoke won at Sandown on his penultimate start in March, then was pulled up in a Grade 3 at the same course the following month.
Evan Williams’s Minella Blueway won two good races at the end of last season and comes here with bottom weight. He may be placed at a big price.
But I go for Neil Mulholland’s Transmission, who won over this course and distance last November. He ran well after that, including a fine 5th at the Festival behind Rock My Way.
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle is at 2.55. This is a Class 2 race run over 3 miles. Top weight is Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies’s Gowel Road, who was runner-up on his first four outings last season before winning a Grade 2 here at Cheltenham in January. He then finished 8th in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival. Sure to run well despite top weight.
Irish runner Winning Smut trained by Gordon Elliott won a Listed race at Galway in August beating Willie Mullins’s Chart Topper and can confirm those placings.
The Hobbs and White trained Tiny Tetley ran up a treble last season but this is much tougher.
Emma Lavelle’s Ma Shantou won a couple of small races last year then ran 7th in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. He may find this tough going.
Bottom weight is Dan Skelton’s Prince Zaltar who has been running during the summer in Ireland and joined his new stable in September winning at the first time of asking at Newton Abbot that month. He could be anything.
But my idea of the winner is Olly Murphy’s Long Draw who is twice a course and distance winner. He is a consistent performer who can do well in this grade prior to moving up to Group company.
But the flat is not done with and the 1.30 at Doncaster looks an intriguing handicap. The Skill Step Group Handicap is a Class 2 run over 5 furlongs. Top weight here is Richard Fahey’s Vintage Clarets who is running for the fourteenth time this season having won once at Ascot in August. He looks too high in the weights at present.
Rod Millman’s Woolhampton is another busy sprinter who knocked up a double in Aug/Sept at Ascot and Sandown. She was last seen in a Listed race at Ascot at the beginning of this month where she finished down the field. She is another with plenty of weight.
Rosario trained by Roger Teal is highly fancied after being placed on his last three outings, including once here at Doncaster last month. A bold run is expected.
Robert Cowell’s Lexington Blitz finally got his head in front at Catterick last week after a run of three seconds but this is tougher.
Jessica Macey’s Smart Vision is upped in class after winning a Class 4 at Leicester earlier this month. A major improvement is required.
David and Nicola Barron’s Jer Batt never seems to run a bad race as a run of five places shows. I expect him to go close once again.
But my preference is for Sam England’s Trilby who comes here on the back of three placed runs. He carries bottom weight and looks like getting the soft ground he loves. He won on heavy at the end of last season and is capable of doing so again.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.45 Cheltenham. Minella Supreme
2.20 Cheltenham. Transmission
2.55 Cheltenham. Long Draw
1.30 Doncaster. Trilby
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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