Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A mix of codes on ITV Racing this Saturday as the cameras bring us the best of racing from Sandown, Haydock and Leicester. It is the official final day of the jumps season at Sandown, and Maestro Mullins is going all out to win the British Trainers Title after major victories at Aintree and Ayr.
I’m sure he has left most British trainers scratching their heads and wondering how they can stop their Irish counterparts and Willie Mullins, in particular, from taking all the major British handicap trophies (and prize money) across the Irish Sea next season.
The four Sandown races are backed up by one race from each of the cards at Haydock and Leicester, where Class 2 handicaps are being held, and here are my thoughts for this week and my Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Fiercely Proud
3.35 Sandown. Aime Desjy / Paul Townend’s ride
2.05 Leicester. Thunder Roar
2.45 Haydock. Gweedore
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Sandown with the 1.50, the bet365 Novices Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, a 2-mile Class2 race. Top weight is Paul Nicholls’s Panjari who is a triple winner this season including at Ffos Las last month. He may want some rain to soften up the ground.
Another Nicholls runner is Fire Flyer who won at Wincanton and Taunton in February but was pulled up here at Sandown at the beginning of March due to heavy going.
Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel has been ultra-consistent this term, with two victories from four starts and runner-up on the other two occasions. But this is his toughest task to date.
Dan Skelton’s Be Aware is another with good form figures but is also moving up in class.
Harry Fry’s Geezer Rockstar was said to have appreciated a firmer surface when winning at Ascot last month. He can go close.
I prefer Ben Pauling’s Fiercely Proud. He won at Taunton in December and has since been placed in two Graded races this year, showing that he has the class to be successful here.
The big race of the day is at 3.35, the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase. This is a Class 1 contest run over 3m 4 1/2f. This high-class race was originally called the Whitbread and has been won by some of the best jumpers in the business, such as Arkle, Mill House, and Desert Orchid.
This year, Kitty’s Light returns to try to retain his crown. He won this race last year but has 11lbs more on his back this time. He ran a fine fifth in the Grand National but this race may come a little too quickly for Christian Williams’s charge.
The top weight is Paul Nicholls’s Threeunderthrufive, who was last seen in February when winning a Grade 3 race at Ascot. He can go close despite his weight.
The phenomenon that is Willie Mullins has three entries: Minella Crooner was third in the Irish National at Fairyhouse earlier this month, Nick Rockett was 7th in the same race, Aime Desjy won at Gowran Park in March and ran a fine 5th at Aintree in a Grade 3 over a shorter distance.
Paul Townend has not yet picked his mount but Aime Desjy might be coming in under the radar.
Henry de Bromhead runs Amirite, who has not been seen since running 5th at Leopardstown at Christmas. It’s good that I will see him feature.
Ludlow trainer Henry Daly has two in this, Rapper and Fortescue, and the former looks the most interesting. He was an unlucky faller at the Festival when going well. He has skipped Aintree for this race and can go well at a nice price.
But it’s one of the Mullins horses for me, and probably Townend’s pick, but I’ll take a chance with Aime Desjy.
On the flat at Leicester, the 2.05 is the Madri Excepcional King Richard lll Cup Handicap, a Class 2 race run over a mile. William Haggas sends last year’s winner back to try and retain his crown. However, he has 6 lbs more to carry this time and has shown very little since last year’s victory.
Amy Murphy’s Miss Cantik won twice last season in France then was a fine second in a Listed race at Longchamp. The trainer has high hopes for her.
Gemma Tutty has declared Look Back, Smiling at both here and Haydock, but this is probably the gelding’s best chance. He won at Doncaster in March but was well beaten into 9th at Newbury.
George Boughey’s Raadobarg was 7th in that race last week and seems to have plenty of weight here.
I prefer Tony Coyle and Kaine Wood’s Thunder Roar, who was second behind Look Back Smiling at Doncaster in March but has a 6lb pull with that animal in this race, making it an ideal opportunity to gain revenge.
Moving to the North-West and Haydock stages, it’s a first flat meeting of the year. At 2.45, the Class 2 Trustatrader.com Handicap, a 7-furlong contest, will be run.
Top weight is David Loughnane’s prolific winner Sparks Fly who completed his season in France winning one of his two races at Saint Cloud. He was a Haydock winner in September but has plenty of weight plus this distance could be a little short for him.
Last year’s winner, Marco Botti’s Rainbow Fire, has just one pound more to carry than last April, but his form has been poor since.
Gavin Cromwell sends Earls over from Ireland. He was a fine second last week at The Curragh and can go well here.
David O’Meara’s Rhoscolyn seems to be a Goodwood specialist but he did win here at Haydock in 2020, don’t discount him.
But I will go along with Katie Scott’s Gweedore. He picked up three wins last season in a busy campaign and goes well fresh. This sort of contest looks ideal for him.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Fiercely Proud
3.35 Sandown. Aime Desjy / Paul Townend’s ride
2.05 Leicester. Thunder Roar
2.45 Haydock. Gweedore
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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