Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
We have two thrilling days racing to look forward to as we say goodbye to 2022 and move into the New Year, ITV are covering two meetings on Saturday from Warwick and Newbury and it’s those I will be concentrating on here.
The main meeting is Newbury with five races being featured, including the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle where Paul Nicholls’s Hermes Allen will look to extend his winning run. Meanwhile at Warwick there are a couple of fine handicaps to look forward to, including a Veteran’s Chase with conditional jockeys on board – that race should be worth the entrance fee alone.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Newbury. Blenkinsop
2.25 Newbury. Le Breuil
3.35 Newbury. Malinello
2.10 Warwick. Go Steady
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
On Sunday at Cheltenham another Nicholls hot-pot will look to strut his stuff in the Relkeel Hurdle, that is Knappers Hill who is unbeaten in his last four races – he is sure to go well. So as we look forward to 2023 I want to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year and may the winners keep coming for you!
Beginning at Newbury with the 1.50 the Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Hurdle where Harry Fry’s Lady Adare comes out for her seasonal debut. She ran up a treble last season but hasn’t been seen since a Taunton victory in February. She could be anything, but I think she is best watched at this stage of her career.
Dan Skelton’s Pikar won easily at Chepstow in October and is sure to go well here. Lucy Wadham’s Martello Sky has hit the post a couple of times this season, including when going off favourite last time in a three runner race where she didn’t jump particularly well.
Warranty has won his last two for trainer Gary Moore including a fine victory at Warwick last month, but he is stepping up in class here.
Another who steps up in class is Henry Daly’s Blenkinsop but he completed his hat-trick under a 7lb penalty. He is quirky but stays well and is open to improvement under his lightweight here.
The Coral Racing Club Mandarin Handicap Chase is at 2.25, a 3m 2f contest. One of the top weights is Alex Hales’ Omar Maretti who comes out for his seasonal reappearance after a couple of victories last season but I fear he has too much weight.
Seamus Mullins’s Moroder also has his first run since completing a four-timer at Exeter last March. He can go well. Venetia Williams’s Laskalin won at Ludlow at the end of November when he was a well backed favourite. The stable is firing well and he can be placed. Tallow For Coal is another who won last time out.
Jamie Snowden’s gelding romped to victory at Lingfield last month despite being hampered by loose horses. He has the scope for further improvement.
But I like Ben Pauling’s Le Breuil who has run well on both occasions since dropping back to handicap company, even as a veteran he is on a handy handicap mark and looks to be the one to be on.
At 3.35, it is the Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices Limited Handicap Chase run at just under 2m 7f. Several of these won last time out including the top weight Bold Endeavour, Nicky Henderson’s charge made all at Leicester earlier this month and better things are hoped for from this 6-year-old but he has plenty of weight here.
Fergal O’Brien’s Nothin To Ask is on a hat-trick after his latest victory at Doncaster last month but the handicapper has hit him with an 8lbs rise and that may hold him back.
Chris Gordon’s Unanswered Prayers won at Cheltenham last month but his jumping was all over the place, and I don’t think he will get away with that again.
Charlie Longsden’s Tea For Free ran up a hat-trick at Uttoxeter last month, his second win at that course, he tends to hang left in his races and this is tougher.
My preference is for Ben Pauling’s Malinello who won a small five runner affair at Newcastle at the end of November, that was his first run for almost two years so he has had his problems but this was a very pleasing reappearance and he could go on to better things.
Moving a few miles north to Warwick at 2.10 it is the Poundland Conditional Jockeys Veterans Handicap Chase a 3 mile contest. It’s always good to see these veteran horses strut their stuff in theses races and from Sunday their ranks will be swelled when all horses become a year older.
Top weight is Neil Mulholland’s La Cavsa Nostra who has been pulled up when out of contention in both of his starts this season but drops back in trip here. He won at the end of last season and could go well here off top weight.
Oliver Greenall’s Midnight Moss was a good second at Doncaster earlier this month and that form could see him placed.
High Counsel has been a course and distance winner for trainer Gary Hanmer and was a fair third in September but looks out of his class here.
Dan Skelton’s Go Steady looks the one to be on after his victory at Lingfield earlier this month when he beat Richard Milford-Slade’s Stamp Your Feet by 11 lengths. He can repeat that success here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Newbury. Blenkinsop
2.25 Newbury. Le Breuil
3.35 Newbury. Malinello
2.10 Warwick. Go Steady
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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