Saturday’s Horse Racing Preview & Tips- 31st October 2026 – Seymour Biz

Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.

Two cracking Autumn meetings to look forward to this week at Wetherby and Ascot with ITV Racing showing nine races in all. The Wetherby card features the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase, the first big chase of the season where Ben Pauling’s Handstands looks a contender, along with two Class 1 hurdle races and a pair of Class 3 contests.

At Ascot, the action consists of a Class 1 Premier Handicap, two Class 2 contests and a Class 3 Chase. So plenty of competitive action to look forward to as the nights get shorter, and here are my thoughts for value at the two meetings.

Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.00 Ascot. Teddy Blue
2.33 Ascot. Viroflay
3.43 Ascot. Gower Prince
1.10 Wetherby. Palamon
Bet this lucky 15 on Betfred

Starting at Ascot with the 2.00 the Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase. This is a Class 2 race run over 2m 1f. The current favourite is Ben Pauling’s Vanderpoel, who won two Class 3s last season and ran 7th in a Grade 3 at the Cheltenham Festival. That Festival race was won by Venetia Williams’s Martator at a massive price, his second Grade 3 victory. The other was over this course and distance in 2024. He has a major chance.

Anthony Honeyball’s Gore Point won on 5 occasions last season, four of which were at Newton Abbot. He is deservedly upped in class here.

Chester Williams’s Haas Boy won four times last season and ran a fine second in a Class 2 at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance last month. He is also upped in class.

Henry Daly’s Jour d’Evasion ran up a treble last season and is another upped in class. I feel he may go close. But my idea of the winner is top weight Teddy Blue, who won this race last season for trainer Harry Derham. He then went on to win at Kempton and ran with distinction in some top-rated contests.

The 2.33 is the Sodexo Live! Regal Encore Handicap Chase. This Grade 3 Premier Handicap is run over 3 miles. Top weight is Ben Pauling’s Your Darling, who won a Class 3 at Ludlow last March then was pulled up in a Listed race at Punchestown last May. He has plenty of weight.

Pauling also runs the favourite, Henry’s Friend, who won this race last season. He was highly tried after that without success, and he has 2lbs more to carry than last year.

Nicky Henderson’s Califet En Vol won a Class 2 at Kempton last February but disappointed in his final two outings.

Jamie Moore’s Tapley has won two races this autumn but is upped in class here.

Tom Lacey’s Imperial Alex won a Class 2 at Uttoxeter in June, following up a victory at Stratford. He could go well off his low weight.

My preference is for Paul Nicholls’s Viroflay, who either won or was runner-up on 8 occasions until he met the National fences on his final run of last season. He then won at Newton Abbot in May. I take him to continue his winning ways.

The Class 2 Lavazza Handicap Hurdle is at 3.43. This is run over 1m 7 1/2f. Christian Williams’s Williethebuilder is upped in class after scoring already this season last month at Sedgefield, but he has plenty of weight.

Harry Fry’s Trustintimes rattled up a hat-trick of wins last season, including one race over this course and distance, but he is upped in class here.

Chris Gordon’s Nap Hand had a good summer winning on two occasions, and he carried on the good work winning at Plumpton last month, but this is tougher.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Moveit Like Minnie won at Wincanton last March and ran second on his seasonal reappearance at Hexham last month, but he is yet to be successful in this grade.

I take a chance with bottom weight Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Gower Prince. He has been busy this autumn with wins at Market Rasen and Chepstow. He has also been runner-up on his other three outings, and he can take this opportunity to move up in class off his low weight.

For my final selection, I move north to Wetherby and the 1.10, which is the Position Payout At bet365 Handicap Chase, a Class 3 race run over 2m 3 1/2f. Patrick Neville’s Tanking Along is on a hat-trick after wins at Sedgefield and Perth in September and October respectively. He moves up a notch in class here.

Oliver Greenall’s Kahavari finished off last season winning a Class 2 at Sandown in April. He can go well on his seasonal reappearance.

Sandy Thomson’s Marty McFly rattled up a four-timer at the beginning of this year. His final victory was in class 2 at Carlisle in March. He ran disappointingly at Perth last month in a Class 4, and can go close after that prep run.

I can see no further than Dan Skelton’s top weight, Palamon, who won a Class 4 at Southwell this month, then, a week later, ran a fine second at Perth despite being bumped and baulked from 2 furlongs out; he can gain recompense here.

Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.00 Ascot. Teddy Blue
2.33 Ascot. Viroflay
3.43 Ascot. Gower Prince
1.10 Wetherby. Palamon
Bet this lucky 15 on Betfred

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