Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
After last week’s snow and ice, jump racing is back this Saturday with action from two of the country’s best NH courses, Cheltenham and Doncaster. There are five races from Prestbury Park for Festival Trials Day where the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase was transferred to after Ascot’s abandonment last week.
It’s just a shame about the small fields for the Trials races. Have the trainers been scared off by the Irish entries?
Meanwhile, at Town Moor, there is no such problem as the northern trainers and some of the southern ones have turned out en masse for the well-supported card.
ITV Racing are covering three races, all Class 1s, including the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase which looks like a great betting heat. So eight races in all and here are my thoughts for the best value for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Cheltenham. Grandeur d’Ame
3.35 Cheltenham. Paisley Park
2.40 Doncaster. I Love My Baie
3.15 Doncaster. Kandoo Kid
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Cheltenham with the 1.15- the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase, this is a Class 1 Premier Handicap run over 2m 4 1/2f. Top weight Hitman is one of two Paul Nicholls runners. He frequently runs in Grade 1 races but has been unsuccessful so he drops down in class. He is sure to go well but there may well be better handicapped horses here.
Nicholls’s other runner is Il Ridoto who won this last year but has 7lbs more to carry this time.
Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law has been racing at distances, in excess of 3 miles, and drops back in distance here with plenty of weight. He has a lot to do.
Ryan Potter’s Jetoile won a Grade 2 at Aintree last October in what was a shock result. He has not run since and is probably best watched.
Venetia Williams’s Victtoerino comes here seeking a hat-trick of wins and has every chance of succeeding. He has won twice at Ascot this season over 3 miles and this looks like a case of seeing if he copes with the undulations of Prestbury Park.
I am looking further down the handicap for my idea of the winner which is Alan King’s Grandeur d’Ame. The trainer is hopeful of a good run from his Wetherby winner after a fine fourth here at Cheltenham in December behind second Il Ridoto with whom he is now 8lbs better off.
The McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle is at 3.35. This is a Grade 2 contest run over 3 miles and has attracted several horses who have met each other on various occasions previously.
The current favourite is Emma Lavelle’s stablestar Paisley Park who has had two runs this season and been a close second on both occasions. Last time at Ascot in December where he has Dashel Drasher, Champ and Botox Has behind him I expect him to confirm those placings and be successful for the first time this season.
Of the rest of the field, the Irish raider is the best challenger, Emmet Mullins’s Noble Yeats is a top-class chaser who was fourth in last year’s Grand National. He may not have the pace of these.
At Doncaster, the 2.40 is the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices Hurdle a Grade 2 run over 3m 1/2f. Kim Bailey’s Destroytheevidence has been very successful this season winning three times and being in the frame on his other three outings but this is a big step up in class.
Lucinda Russell’s Espirit du Potier has won three times at Ayr latterly early this month. He is another stepping up in class.
Ruth Jefferson’s Kerryhill won at Kelso in November then ran fourth in a Class 1 Novice Hurdle here at Cheltenham, more is required.
Paul Nicholls’s Welcom To Cartries won a Class 3 at Ascot in December and is expected to go well.
But I prefer Stuart Crawford’s I Love My Baie. This Irish-trained gelding won at Ayr just before Christmas coming home easily by 7 lengths. Previous to that, he had been third in a Grade 2 at Haydock. He can score again here.
The big race of the day is at 3.15 the SBK Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase a Class 1 Premier Chase run over 3 miles. One of the Irish runners is highly fancied, Emmet Mullins’s Sweet Hill is at the bottom of the handicap after being unsuccessful this season. He won here at Doncaster last March and in his latest run at Fairyhouse in December he finished a well-beaten fourth. That form should not be enough to take this.
Nicky Henderson runs Mister Coffey who was second here at Doncaster last month in a Class 2 race he can go close again.
Behind him that day were Twoshotsoftequila, Whistleinthedark and Sail Away. I expect him to confirm those placings.
Nicky Richards’s Famous Bridge has won two Class 2 races at Haydock this season and is well-equipped to step up in class here.
Toby Lawes Surrey Quest also steps up in class here after two wins in minor contests. I like two here, Paul Nicholls’s Kandoo Kid and Anthony Honeyball’s Forward Plan. The former won at Newbury in early December and has been runner-up on his other three outings, while Forward Plan won here at Doncaster last month. It’s a bit of a toss of a coin but I just come down in favour of the Kandoo Kid.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Cheltenham. Grandeur d’Ame
3.35 Cheltenham. Paisley Park
2.40 Doncaster. I Love My Baie
3.15 Doncaster. Kandoo Kid
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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