Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are three meetings to look forward to on ITV this Saturday with the principal one being Sandown from where five races are being televised. The card features a couple of Class 1 races, including the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase where Gordon Elliott has the unbeaten Gerri Colombe declared.
The other Class 1 is a Premier Handicap which I have featured below. Musselburgh’s prestigious two-day meeting starts on Saturday, and three races are being shown where the Edinburgh National is the highlight of a fine card.
Finally, one race is being shown from Wetherby which is a Grade 2 novices’ Chase where Nicky Henderson has sent one of his best novices, City Chief to challenge for the prize. So plenty to look at for this week’s Lucky Fifteen and here are my thoughts.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.55 Sandown. Call Me Lord
3.30 Sandown. Rapper
2.03 Musselburgh Captain Cattistock
3.15 Musselburgh. Lebowski
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Starting at Sandown with the 2.55, the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle which is run at just under 3 miles where top weight and one of the favourites is Jonjo O’Neill’s Flight Deck. He won over this distance at Chepstow in December when Bells of Peterboro was second and even though Tim Vaughan’s grey is 4lbs better off I expect Flight Deck to confirm those placings.
David Pipe’s Remastered is having a great season after disappointing last time. He has won twice at Kempton and Aintree and will go close here.
Ian Williams’s Party Business has not run since May and is probably best watched.
Sandy Thomson’s Storm Nelson has won at Ayr and Carlisle this season but steps up in class. He has a chance to make the frame.
Jet Of Magic comes from the strong Paul Nicholls yard and ran a fine second at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Nicholls’s horses should always be respected.
But my preference is for Nicky Henderson’s Call Me Lord who loves Sandown having won here three times. He was 12 lengths behind Jet Of Mgic at Cheltenham but is a couple of pounds better off here and on his favourite track can come out on top.
The 3.30 is the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase a 3 mile contest. The current favourite is Tim Vaughan’s Eve’s Oscar after his fine victory at Cheltenham in December, that was a Grade 3 race and he drops down in class so must go well here.
Ben Pauling’s Bangers And Cash has been successful on his last two outings at Market Rasen and Exeter and his trainer considers him good enough to play with the big boys now but this is a big step up in class for the young chaser.
Paul Nicholls’s Broken Halo has disappointed on his two outings this term after the fine season he had last time when he was victorious twice. He needs to show improvement to figure.
Peter Bowen’s Equus Dancer won a small race at Hereford in December, adding to a couple of summer victories. Much more is needed here.
I like Henry Daly’s Rapper who won twice last season and added to his tally on New Year’s Day where he hammered a class field coming home by over 8 lengths. He can be successful once again here.
Moving north of the border to Musselburgh and the 2.03 is the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase which is run over a marathon 3m 7 1/2f. Ben Pauling’s Slipway will take all the beating here after wins over similar distances at Perth last season and Fontwell in November but having to carry top weight is a worry.
Mighty Thunder won the Scottish Grand National for trainer Lucinda Russell in 2021, but his form has fallen of a cliff since then and he is best watched.
Sandy Thomson’s Doyen Breed was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster in December and this is tougher.
I prefer Thompson’s other runners The Ferry Master and Flower Of Scotland with the latter probably the better of the two. She is a Kelso specialist and won there easily in December. She can figure in the finish.
It should be noted that Ian Williams has sent Tide Times up here for this after a victory at Ludlow in January, but he is upped in class and may struggle in this company.
I go for last year’s winner to repeat his success, Captain Cattistock trained by Fergal O’Brien. He has put up two good performances on both of this year’s runs at Cheltenham, and he can repeat last year’s success.
The 3.15 is the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle run over just short of 2 miles. Donald McCain’s stable is firing well, and he sends a couple here.
Collingham and Nayati, and it’s Nayati that interests me. He won here on New Year’s Day and is expected to go close.
Phillip Hobbs’s Camprond was one of the top novices last season but has disappointed so far this year.
Ruth Jefferson’s Inca Prince won twice here at Musselburgh last season and is sure to go close once again.
Last year’s winner Socialist Agenda returns to try and regain his crown, but he has not won since, and he has an extra pound on his back.
I like Michael Scudamore’s Lebowski who is a fluent jumper who won well at Wetherby in December. He can defy a penalty.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.55 Sandown. Call Me Lord
3.30 Sandown. Rapper
2.03 Musselburgh Captain Cattistock
3.15 Musselburgh. Lebowski
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Related Reading