Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The Flat is back! Doncaster stages its Lincoln meeting this Saturday, and ITV Racing are there for the first proper meeting of the flat season.
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There are four races being televised from Town Moor, including two Listed contests and two Class 2 handicaps- the Spring Mile and the Lincoln. This meeting is backed up by three races on the all-weather at Kempton that include a Listed contest and two Class 2 handicaps, the Queen’s Prize and the Rosebery.
So with seven top-class contests to start off the season, here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Doncaster. James’s Delight
2.25 Doncaster. Lir Speciale
3.35 Doncaster. Shout
2.43 Kempton. Marhaba Ghaiyyath
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Doncaster with the 1.50, the William Hill Price Boosts Every Day Cammidge Trophy Stakes. This is a Listed race run over 6 furlongs. Last year’s winner, Spycatcher, returns to try to win this once again.
Karl Burke’s charge has 5lbs more to carry than last year, but his form at the end of last season was substantial when winning a Group 3 at Chantilly and a Listed race here at Doncaster.
Clive Cox’s Jasour was disappointing last season. However, three of his four defeats came in Group 1 company. So he cannot be discounted with this drop in class.
William Haggas’s Montassib finished last season here at Doncaster, running 5th to Spycatcher. Prior to that, he had had two runs in Group races without success.
I like the look of another one of Cox’s horses, James’s Delight. He ran no sort of race in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock last September and was over the top in another Group 1 at Ascot the following month, but prior to these outings, he won a Group 2 at The Curragh. He goes well fresh and looks primed for this.
At 2.25, it is the William Hill Epic Boosts Spring Mile Handicap, a Class 2 handicap for horses that did not make it into the Lincoln. It is run over the same course and distance as that race.
Kevin Ryan’s Cadarn won a couple of small races at Redcar at the beginning of last season. However, he did not progress from that.
George Boughey’s Carron won three small races last season and started this term with a fine win at Newcastle earlier this month. He can hit the frame here.
Peter Chappell-Hyam’s Desperate Dan closed out last season with two wins from his last three outings if he has trained on he can feature in the finish here.
Jack Channon’s Mezcala is fancied in this after winning at Lingfield in August, then running second at Haydock the following month. But he blotted his copybook on his final outing at Newmarket.
Brian Ellison’s Lir Speciale has won three times here at Doncaster, including twice at the end of last season. He would be a popular winner and gets my nod.
The William Hill Lincoln is at 3.35, and this Class 2 Heritage Handicap is run over Town Moor’s straight mile. This year’s race looks as competitive as ever, with 22 runners. The current favourite and joint top weight is Harry Eustace’s La Botte, who won first time out at Newcastle last March. He ran 4th in a prep race at Wolverhampton earlier this month.
William Haggas’s Eternal Force completed a hat-trick of wins at the end of last season and deservedly steps up in class here.
James Owen’s Rogue Diplomat went one better and won four times, two of which were here at Doncaster over 7 furlongs. I expect him to put up a bold show.
Jack Channon’s Urban Lion was a dual winner last season, but he also put up some decent performances in big handicaps at Newbury and Ascot. With luck in running, he can be placed.
Charles Hills’ Galeron ran second here at Doncaster on his final outing in October, which was after a good run at Goodwood the previous month. Any give in the ground will suit him.
My preference here is for Simon and Ed Crisford’s ex-course winner Shout, who won over Ascot’s straight mile last September, beating several horses he meets once again here. His final run of the season was over the same course and distance, and he finished a good fourth after being slowly away. He has the credentials to win here.
For my final selection, I move to Kempton and the 2.43, which is the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Rosebery Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over 1m 3f. Top weight here is Jane Chappell-Hyam’s Military Academy, who has been running on the all-weather and was last seen running third in a Group 3 race here at Kempton in February. A repetition of that run will see him go close despite his weight.
George Boughey’s El Burham is the current favourite after showing sparkling form last season with wins at Ayr and Chester. He is upped in trip here and may find one or two too good.
Andrew Balding’s Respond has started this term well with a win at Chelmsford earlier this month. This is a step up in class.
Kieran Burke’s Whitcombe Rockstar is a Kempton specialist, having won here 7 times, including twice this season already. He is sure to fight out the finish.
But I like a horse I had my eye on all last season, Charlie Johnston’s Marhaba Ghaiyyath. He won at Wolverhampton and Redcar, then was tried in some hot handicaps and was runner-up on three occasions. He went off the boil on his last two outings, but he is reported to have wintered well and is sure to return to winning ways.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Doncaster. James’s Delight
2.25 Doncaster. Lir Speciale
3.35 Doncaster. Shout
2.43 Kempton. Marhaba Ghaiyyath
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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