Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The flat is back! Well, it’s never really been away, has it? But the March Doncaster meeting heralds the start of the season for me and although there are two important National Hunt meetings to come on subsequent weekends in April from Ayr and Aintree, the top-class flat racing will now come thick and fast. We are only five weeks from Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.
So as to this Saturday, the principal card is at Doncaster with ITV covering five races, including the Lincoln. This is backed up with a couple of races on Kempton’s Polytrack and just to show the jumps season has not gone away, there are two races being shown from Kelso.
So plenty to chose from with nine televised races and here are my thoughts for value bets for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Kempton. Felix
2.40 Kempton. Sir Chauvelin
2.25 Doncaster. Empirestateofmind
3.35 Doncaster. Teodolina
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
I will begin on the all-weather at Kempton with the 2.05 the Racing TV Magnolia Stakes, a 1m 2f Listed race. The current favourite is Richard Hannon’s Fancy Man who has already beaten several of the rivals he meets here at Lingfield in February but subsequently, he was himself beaten back at that same course later in the month in the Winter Derby.
Roger Varian’s Father Of Jazz is having his first outing since last July but he has proved himself on the A/W with victories early last year however this is tougher.
King Of The South was second to Fancy Man at Lingfield however William Knight’s gelding was well beaten that day and was a disappointing fourth at Wolverhampton earlier this month when sent off favourite.
Marco Botti’s Felix could be the answer here, having just returned from Dubai after finishing fifth in a Group 1 earlier this month. He is very consistent on the A/W and has the class to take this.
The Racing TV Queen’s Prize Handicap is at 2.40 and Marco Botti has a chance of taking this race too with his course and distance winner Moliiwood who was successful here in January with Imperium and Justus behind him and I expect him to confirm those placings.
Another course and distance winner is Charlie Appleby’s Bandinelli who was a winner here last November in his first attempt at two miles, he should go close again.
The Charlton’s Imperium seems to love it here at Kempton with five victories from six attempts. However, this is a step up in class from his previous races at the track.
My preference is for Jim Goldie’s Sir Chauvelin. This veteran was a winner at Newcastle last month having been third previously. His form over the last six months has been a vast improvement over previous seasons and he can belie his years to be successful here.
Moving north to Doncaster at 2.25 is the SBK Spring Mile Handicap. This is a race for those horses who failed to get into the Lincoln Handicap proper.
Top of the handicap is the Cole’s General Lee who showed good form by winning at Windsor and Goodwood last summer but his weight is a worry.
Andrew Balding’s May Night has been plying his trade on the A/W and has found some success in moderate handicaps but this is a different proposition.
Right at the bottom of the weights is Ian Williams’s Mustarrid whose form last season was pretty dire. However, with some give in the ground, he may run well.
Empirestateofmind has been running consistently well for trainer John Quinn with three wins last year the latest of which was at Pontefract in October. If he can carry that form forward, he should have enough ability to take this contest.
The SBK Lincoln is at 3.35 and this is a race where it usually pays to watch the betting. The current favourite is William Haggas’s Mujtaba who was unbeaten as a 3-year-old in three outings and fully deserves this step up in class but it may come slightly too soon.
Charlie Appleby’s Modern News also showed fine form last year rattling up a hat-trick of wins. He has wintered in Dubai and ran third in a Listed contest at Meydan in February.
The Crisfords runs Saleymm who finished last season with two wins on the all-weather but he looks high enough in the weights to me. Top of the weights is John Quinn’s Safe Voyage who has been a great servant to the yard. He is a multiple Class 1 and Group winner who goes best with some give in the ground. Even with the top weight, he may be placed at a nice price.
Andrew Balding’s Notre Belle Bete has won twice already this year on the all-weather but he has a 5lb penalty and that may hold him back.
I always like to look at the bottom of the weights to see if anything stands out at a big price and Teodolina interests me.
Richard Hannon’s filly won at Ascot last May then followed up at Haydock later that same month. She then ran at the Royal meeting but had a terrible draw. So I am between the filly and Modern News and I think it may be ladies first, Teodolina for me.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Kempton. Felix
2.40 Kempton. Sir Chauvelin
2.25 Doncaster. Empirestateofmind
3.35 Doncaster. Teodolina
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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