Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The jumps are back, and ITV Racing are televising five races from Cheltenham. In actual fact, the jump season started just after the Aintree Grand National meeting finished in April, but ITV chooses mainly to ignore summer jumping and chooses this meeting to begin its coverage.
The Prestbury Park card features four Class 2s, of which two are handicaps and a Class 3 Novices Handicap. But the flat season is not finished with as the Futurity Meeting from Doncaster is featured on TV with three races being shown they are a Listed race, a Class 2 handicap and the Group 1 Futurity itself, where I’m hoping to see Ralph Beckett’s Matauri Bay run a big race.
But we are not finished there, as the cameras are also at Newbury, covering two Group 3s. Ten races are being covered from three meetings, making a very busy Saturday afternoon indeed.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.10. Cheltenham. Jazzy Matty
2.20 Cheltenham. Broadway Boy
2.55 Cheltenham. Supreme Gift
2.05 Doncaster. Jer Batt
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning with the jumps card at Cheltenham and the 1.19 is the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices Limited Handicap Chase. This is a Class 3 contest run over 2m 4f. Nigel Twiston-Davies runs Guard Your Dreams, who disappointed last season when he was highly tried. However, he won a Class 3 at Warwick earlier this month. This looks tougher.
Dan Skelton’s Riskintheground has had a profitable summer, winning on four occasions, but he also has tougher opposition in this race.
There are several Irish challengers here, all with chances. One of the best could be Henry de Bromhead’s Marv Michael, who has won his last two latterly at Kilbeggan in September.
Gavin Cromwell sends over Dutch Schultz who won twice in July and August but disappointed at Listowel last month on soft ground. He is a threat on good going.
Joe Tizzard’s Lord Of Thunder won twice over hurdles at the end of last season at Wincanton. This is his first run over the bigger obstacles and he is probably best watched.
I will go for another Irish runner, Jazzy Matty, trained by Cian Collins, who won at Sligo earlier this month, adding to an earlier victory in August.
At 2.20, it is the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase. This is a Class 2 race run over 3m 1f. The top weight here is Kim Bailey’s Does He Know, who is having his first run of the season. He loves it around here, having won four times at Cheltenham, but the top weight may be a hindrance.
Dan Skelton’s Le Milos won twice in November 2022 on his seasonal reappearance, but last season, he was tried in Class 1 company and was very disappointing.
Sam England’s Kinondo Kwetu won twice in the summer and was a fine second at Perth in September. He can be placed once again.
Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief won at Punchestown in February but was pulled up on his final outing at Fairyhouse in April. A bold run can be expected.
But the stand-out horse for me here is Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Broadway Boy, who won two Class 1s here at Cheltenham and then ran in two more Class 1s in January and April and was not disgraced. He starts off his year in a handicap company, and I’m certain his trainer expects him to be successful.
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) is at 2.55, a Class 2 contest run over 3 miles.
Gary and Josh Moore have the top weight with Botox Has who won a Grade 2 at Haydock in February. He then ran in two more Graded races but was unsuccessful. This is a major drop in class, hence his huge weight.
Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark has run up a treble with wins at Kilbeggan and twice at Galway. He is sure to go well.
Lucy Wadham’s Zain Nights finished last season with wins at Newbury and Cheltenham, then won at Haydock in May, but he meets some top-class horses here.
Henry de Bromhead’s Como Park was a winner at Bellewstown in July and can hit the frame.
But I go for a British horse who looks well-handicapped, Henry Daly’s Supreme Gift, who won at Ascot in March, then finished his season with a fine third here at Cheltenham in April just 3 lengths behind Zain Nights against whom he is 10lbs better off.
Moving to Doncaster and the 2.05 Join Century Racing Club Today Handicap a Class 2 sprint over 5 furlongs. Gemma Tutty has the top weight and favourite here with Blue Storm, who won at Haydock last time, but he has plenty of weight.
Vintage Clarets is finishing his season with a rattle for trainer Richard Fahey with two wins and a second, but he has risen in the weights.
John and Thady Gosden’s Cover Up has disappointed this season, but he has drifted to a low mark and can go well.
Kevin Ryan’s Venture Capital is only a 3-year-old, and he won well at Doncaster and then ran a fine third at Ascot earlier this month.
John Butler’s Designer is lightly raced and was a fair 5th at Haydock last month.
Rod Millman’s Woolhampton was due a win and he got it at Nottingham on heavy ground a fortnight ago. This looks tougher.
I prefer David and Nicola Barron’s Jer Batt, who won at Haydock in August. He seems to acquit himself well there, but now that he has dropped to a decent mark, I think Doncaster should suit him.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.10. Cheltenham. Jazzy Matty
2.20 Cheltenham. Broadway Boy
2.55 Cheltenham. Supreme Gift
2.05 Doncaster. Jer Batt
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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