Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The old Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury used to be one of the highlights of early winter on the jumping scene, but now entitled the Coral Cold Cup Handicap, it appears to have lost a lot of its kudos despite retaining its Class 1 status. The race was always able to attract Gold Cup-class horses, but now it seems to be just another handicap, as can be seen by this year’s entries.
ITV Racing have concentrated most of their firepower on the Newbury card, from where they are televising four races, two Class 1s (Grade 3s), a Class 2 and a Class 3.
The secondary meeting is from Newcastle, where just two races are being shown. The Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Grade 3 Rehearsal Chase. Both these races have excellent prize money, so it’s a shame about the small fields.
Just the six races to look forward to this week, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.40 Newbury. East India Express
2.15 Newbury. Indemnity
2.55 Newbury. The Changing Man
3.15 Newcastle. Cruz Control
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Certainly, no trouble with small fields at Newbury, and I’ll begin with the 1.40 the Coral “Daily Rewards Shaker” Handicap Hurdle with 15 runners running over 2m 4 1/2f in this Class 2 race.
The warm favourite is the Hobbs & White gelding French Ship, who won at Cheltenham last month, adding to the three victories he notched up last season. He is sure to go close despite climbing in the weights.
Harry Derham’s Dargiannini won a Class 2 at Uttoxeter last month after a blank season last term.
Tom Symonds’s Lud’or was a Class 2 winner at Bangor-on-Dee two weeks ago. He can build on that victory.
Emma Lavelle’s Guard Duty is having his first run of the season after three wins last season, including one over this course and distance. Lavelle is very upbeat on his chances.
Ben Pauling’s Personal Ambition was highly tried last season. He had a prep run at Carlisle earlier this month, finishing 4th. A victory would embolden his chances for the rest of the season.
But my preference is for Nicky Henderson’s East India Express, despite him being unable to get round on this last two outings. I give him another chance here.
The 2.15 is the Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle, which is a Grade 3 Premier Handicap run over 2m 1/2f. One of the top weights here is Dan Skelton’s Live Conti, who won twice last season and then ran second in a Grade 1 at Aintree last April. A bold run is expected, but the weight is a problem.
The other top weight is G & J Moore’s Give It To Me Oj, who, after winning three times last term, came out at Cheltenham in October and was a successful odds-on favourite in a Class 2, a fine win.
Olly Murphy’s Indeevar Blue won two lower-class races last season and steps up in class here.
Harry Derham’s Viyanni is another with good form in lower-class races last season and is upped in class. But this is much tougher.
Emma Lavelle’s Indemnity won at the end of last season, came out and won at Market Rasen in October, then ran a good second at Ascot at the beginning of this month. The trainer states she doesn’t want any rain, and I give him a good chance off his low weight.
The big betting race of the day is at 2.55, the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase, a Class 1 Grade 3 Premier Handicap run over 3m 2f. The Irish trainers are out in force here, and they have the top weight with Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star, who has been running consistently well in Grade 1 races in both the UK and Ireland, but he has plenty of weight.
Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag is a very interesting runner. After finishing second in the Kerry National at Listowel in September, he came to Cheltenham the following month and romped away with a Class 2. This is a stepping stone for him on the way to the Grand National in April, and despite his high weight, I’m expecting a bold run.
Willie Mullins has four runners declared here, and the best of which is probably Blizzard of Oz, who won a Listed race at Wexford in October.
Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is upped in distance after winning a Grade 3 at Cheltenham this month. He has a 4lb penalty for that win.
Olly Murphy’s Resplendent Grey won at Carlisle on his seasonal reappearance. He has gone up 6lbs in the handicap after that win.
Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man has been knocking on the door, and his second at Ascot at the beginning of the month shows he has the capability to be successful here.
Finally, I will move north to Newcastle for the 3.15, the Bet MGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase. This Class 1 Grade 3 Premier Handicap is run over 2m 7 1/2f. Such a shame there are just eight entrants.
Top weight is Emma Lavelle’s Hang In There, the 11-year-old who has been a prolific winner, started this season with a victory at Chepstow last month. He will not relish any rain.
Dan Skelton has the favourite here with Deafening Silence, who is a past Grade 2 winner in novice company. He is making his seasonal reappearance since his final run last March.
Tom Lacey’s Cruz Control is a past course and distance winner. He finished off last season with a fine win at Aintree in a Grade 3 last April. He is sure to go close.
Anthony Honeyball’s Jasmin de Grugy ran up a five-timer last season and last May ran a good second in a Listed race at Punchestown.
Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith’s Konfusion is highly fancied in some quarters after his win at Wetherby in early November. In his latest run last week, he unshipped his rider at Haydock after going off favourite. A better run is expected, but it’s Cruz Control for me.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.40 Newbury. East India Express
2.15 Newbury. Indemnity
2.55 Newbury. The Changing Man
3.15 Newcastle. Cruz Control
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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