Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
This week sees the start of the new jumps season on ITV with a fine card at Cheltenham. There are those that say jumping has never really been away as it has been going on right through the summer, but this Cheltenham meeting heralds the start of the winter game proper.
The card features two chase and two hurdle races to kick off the season but the flat has not yet gone away with two Group 3s from Newbury and three races from Doncaster.
The Town Moor card is particularly important as it features the Futurity Trophy Stakes which can be an important pointer to next year’s Classics. It was won last year by Auguste Rodin and Aidan O’Brien sends his unbeaten colt Diego Velazquez to contest it this time around. Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini may give him a race.
Meanwhile, here are my thoughts for the best of this Saturday’s action and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Cheltenham Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Dancing On My Own
1.50 Spirit d’Aunou
2.25 Amirite
3.00 Hugos New Horse
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The new season at Cheltenham starts with a very tricky handicap chase at 1.15 the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase, a Class 2 run over two miles. Top weight here is L J Morgan’s Notlongtillmay who had a great season last time winning three times in Novice company. He ran a fine second on his final outing at the Festival in a Grade 1 and has a fine chance here in handicap company for the first time.
The current favourite is Gary Moore’s Haddex Des Obeaux who won on his last two outings last time around but this is his first race since January.
Emma Lavelle’s Red Rookie won at Warwick in March then finished his campaign by running third at Kempton in May when he went off favourite, more is required here.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Guy finished last season with a win then won at Fontwell earlier this month but he steps up in class here.
I prefer Henry de Bromhead’s Dancing On My Own who won a Grade 3 in April at Aintree. Since then, he has run third at Listowel in June. He should have the class to take this.
The 1.50 is the Masterson Holdings Hurdle. a Class 2 for 4-year-olds run at 2 m 1/2f. Paul Nicholls has the warm favourite here with Blueking d’Oroux who won at Ascot at a big price in April. From there, he ran second at later in the month.
Vying for favouritism is Gary Moore’s Spirit d’Aunou who won four times last season, including a handicap at Chepstow in April but he steps up in class here.
Dan Skelton’s Punta Del Este was 10 lengths behind Blueking d’Oroux at Ascot after having been well beaten at the Festival here at Cheltenham. Improvement would be required.
How could could Sophie Leech’s Bojak be? He won at Cork in July and ran a good second on heavy going in France earlier this month. I am tempted with him but go for Spirit d’Aunou.
The Epic Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase is at 2.25, this is a 3m 1f Class 2 contest. Top weight here is Sam England’s Kinondo Kwetu who had a great season last time.
He has run twice early this season winning at Aintree in May and finishing third at Uttoxeter in July. In that Uttoxeter race, he was beaten by Ben Pauling’s Twig who was notching his second win of the early season at the Staffordshire course, this will be tougher.
Nicky Henderson runs Quick Draw who won on his seasonal reappearance at Ludlow earlier this month. He won easily that day and steps up in class here.
Neil Mulholland’s Brief Times has won twice during the summer but he is another who is trying to move up in class. He will be fit after his summer exertions.
Henry de Bromhead has two in this Whacker Clan and Amirite and both are capable of winning but I will side with Amirite who has been running in some top-rated contests and was a close third at Naas in January.
Finally, at 3.00 it is the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle a Class 2 race run over 3 miles. One of the Irish entries here is Noel Meade’s Bugs Moran who has been runner-up on both his outings this season latterly at Listowel last month, he will go close.
Ben Pauling’s Bangers And Cash is stepping up in class here after a fine season last time with three wins. He is another for the shortlist.
Willie Mullins has a runner here with We’llhavewan who won at Killarney in August and looks well handicapped here.
Gordon Elliott has two runners, Gortmillish and Ringdufferin, and it’s the latter that interests me most after two wins in September at Gowran Park and Downpatrick. Elliott will be keen on him rattling up a quick hat-trick here at Prestbury Park.
But I will be looking at a British horse to defeat these Irish raiders and that is Paul Nicholls’s Hugos New Horse who won five of his seven starts last season. He is upped in trip and class here but Nicholls will be hoping for a victory before possibly sending the 6-year-old chasing and further success.
Cheltenham Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Dancing On My Own
1.50 Spirit d’Aunou
2.25 Amirite
3.00 Hugos New Horse
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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