Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A mixture of codes this week, with five races on the flat from Musselburgh and four over the sticks at Haydock for us to puzzle over. The Musselburgh card features four handicaps, two Class 2s and two Class 3s, and a Listed Race called the Goliath Cup, all of which are difficult propositions to solve.
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The jumps card at Haydock has four televised races, all handicaps- three Class 2s and a Class 4. The highlight on the card is the final of the Middle Distance Veterans Chase, where I like the look of Guard Your Dreams.
So, not the classiest Saturday of the year, but the racing looks pretty competitive, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.55 Musselburgh. A War Eagle
3.05 Musselburgh. Moon Over Miami
3.42 Musselburgh. Jer Batt
3.20 Haydock. Guard Your Dreams
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Musselburgh with the 1.55, which is the Livescore Bet Silver Arrow Handicap, a Class 2 race run over 7 furlongs. The current favourite is Hamad Al Jehani’s Midnight Gun, who finished off last season running 4th in a Listed race at Saint Cloud. That was a fair performance coming on the back of a second, beaten only a nose in a Class 2 at Doncaster last October.
David and Nicola Barron’s Persuasion won this race last season, his only victory of the campaign. He had a run on the all-weather at Newcastle last month, but ran disappointingly. However, this has been his main aim.
Katie Scott’s Gweedore has been a prolific winner for this small yard, and he rounded off last season by winning here at Musselburgh last November. He was second in this race last season, and a bold run is expected.
James Owen’s Goldmoyne has rattled up a four-timer on all-weather tracks this season but is upped in class here.
Mick and David Easterby’s A War Eagle won at Beverley last June, then filled a couple of runner-up spots. His final run can be discounted as the jockey felt something was amiss and eased the gelding down. He can take this off his low weight with Gweedore as the main danger.
At 3.05, it is the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boost Queen’s Cup Handicap, a Class 3 race run over 1m 6f. At the top of the handicap is Adam Nicol’s Wise Eagle, who won this race in 2023. Unfortunately, he has not won since. He was last seen running down the field at Newcastle in January.
Michael Bell’s Dancingwithmyself had a good season last term, winning on two occasions. This race looks like a good target for him.
James Owen’s Sportingsilvermine is a consistent performer at this grade and won at this venue at the beginning of last season, proving he goes well fresh. He can hit the frame once again.
Dan Skelton’s Gambino ran 3rd behind Constitution Hill at Southwell in February and was also 3rd in a hurdle race at Newbury last month. More is required here.
Karl Burke’s Gentle Warrior won twice last season, but on his final outing, he could only finish a poor 5th at Nottingham when odds-on favourite.
I prefer Ralph Beckett’s Moon Over Miami, who has not been seen since winning at Newbury a year ago. I am hoping he is clear of his problems and has a successful season ahead.
The 3.42 is titled the Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over a sharp 5 furlongs. Top weight is Robert Cowell’s Democracy Dilemma, who has been a stalwart for the stable winning in Listed company at this distance. He ran third at Lingfield in February in another Listed race. He is the class horse in the race, but he has plenty of weight to carry.
The bookies’ choice is Kevin Ryan’s Against The Wind, who was stone-dead last in the Grade 1 Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day after two wins earlier in the season. He ran third in a Class 2 race at Southwell last month.
Andrew Balding’s Tropical Storm has won two Listed 5-furlong sprints in his short career, both at York. Perhaps he saves his best for that track.
Richard Fahey’s Vintage Clarets is a stalwart in this company and won at Ascot last August, but he ran poorly at Southwell last month.
I like the look of one lower down the handicap, David and Nicola Barron’s Jer Batt has not won for 20 months. However, he has won over this course and distance before. He is now on a good handicap mark, and a bold run is expected.
Moving to Haydock and the 3.20 is the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase, a Class 2 Series Final run over 2m 4f. These veterans’ chases are proving extremely popular with both punters and trainers, as shown by the field for this Series Final.
Top weight is Donald McCain’s Minella Drama, who won a Grade 2 over this course and distance back in 2022. His latest run was a fine second in a Listed race at Kelso in February.
Dan Skelton’s Le Milos was a beaten favourite at Warwick in February, where he finished 3rd. The second in that Kelso race was Richard Hobson’s Fugitif, but he hasn’t won for over 2 years.
Paul Nicholls’s Outlaw Peter has disappointed this season after three wins in 2023/24, and the stable seems under a cloud.
Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Genois is a dual winner this season and has only qualified for this type of race since January. He can go well off his low weight.
But it’s Nigel and Willie Twiston-Davies’s Guard Your Dreams for me after winning at Warwick in February, beating several he meets here. Since then, he has run in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham and was unluckily brought down at the 1st fence. He can make amends for that mishap.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.55 Musselburgh. A War Eagle
3.05 Musselburgh. Moon Over Miami
3.42 Musselburgh. Jer Batt
3.20 Haydock. Guard Your Dreams
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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