Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A Happy and Prosperous New Year everyone
May you all find lots of winners, and to give you a helping hand, here are my thoughts for this Saturday’s racing at Sandown and Wincanton on ITV Racing.
There are four races being shown from the Sandown card that includes a Class 1 Mare’s Listed race, two Class 2 handicaps, and a Class 3 handicap. It’s great to see the cameras travelling to the West Country and covering three races from Wincanton, of which two are Class 3 handicaps and a Class 5.
So, while this Saturday’s racing may not showcase the class we have seen over the Festive Season, it still looks very competitive with six handicaps on offer. Here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown, Hunter Legend
3.00 Sandown, Eldorado Allen
3.35 Sandown, Jour d’Evasion
3.15 Wincanton, Kano de Joie
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Sandown with the 1.50,
The Read Nicky Henderson’s Weekly Unibet Blog Handicap Chase, a Class 2 race run over 2m 4f. Top weight here is Dan Skelton’s Unexpected Party, who was last seen running last of four at Cheltenham in a Grade 2 in November. But when you consider he was only beaten 13 lengths by Jonbon, that was not a bad run, but 12st seems a massive burden.
Skelton also runs Etalon, who has not shown last season’s form and was well beaten at Cheltenham last month.
Olly Murphy’s Roccovango won a Class 3 at Uttoxeter in November, adding to the two Class 4 victories from earlier in the season, but he will find this step up in class tough.
Gary & Josh Moore run Jupiter Du Gite, whose front-running tactics have proved unsuccessful so far this season. He is another upped in class.
Venetia Williams has been in the winner’s enclosure on a couple of Saturdays before Christmas, and she will be hoping for something similar from bottom weight Hunter Legend, who romped.
At 3.00,
It is the Unibet Veterans Handicap Chase, a 3-mile Class 2 contest. This race was run at Warwick last season and was won by Anthony Honeyball’s Sam Brown. He has been saddled with top weight here and has not shown that winning form since.
Sandy Thomson’s Empire Steel is a Kelso specialist, and his third at Haydock last month is flattering as he was never in contention.
Harry Fry’s Ask Me Early disappointed at Bangor in November, where he ran a poor 6th in a race he won twelve months earlier. He needs to show a major improvement.
Henry Daly’s Fortescue was a well-beaten second at Aintree in October. His runs either side of that race have been over greater distances than this. However, he can hit the frame.
The answer here lies with Joe Tizzard, who runs Eldorado Allen and Copperhead. The latter won twice in October and since then, has been a close runner-up twice, including once here at Sandown.
While the class horse of the pair is Eldorado Allen, who is a triple Grade 2 winner, this season he has been second at Warwick and third behind Copperhead at Cheltenham, but he is 5lbs better off here, so Eldorado Allen gets the nod.
The Free Bet With Unibet’s Betbuilder Rebound Handicap Hurdle is at 3.35.
This is a Class 3 race run over 2 miles. The current favourite is Dan Skelton’s Honky Tonk Highway, who, after running second at Warwick in November, came out in early December and won a Class 1 Listed Novice race. The stable is in good form, and she is sure to run well.
Top weight is Robert Walford’s Aurigny Mill, who won easily at Newbury in November but then flopped under top weight at Ascot later in the month, but it must be said he was hampered by a faller that day. Weight could be a problem once again.
Tom Symonds’ Navajo Indy won a Class 3 Novices Hurdle at Bangor in October, then popped up to win a Grade 3 at Newbury the following month. A repetition of that form will see him go close.
The Hobbs & White trained Oh My Johnny fell at the last with the race at his mercy at Bangor in November, then gained recompense when winning at Uttoxeter last month but is upped in class here.
Henry Daly’s stable is firing at present, and he has the bottom weight here with Jour d’Evasion, who won a small race at Ludlow last February and this season has been runner-up on both starts, including once here at Sandown. He can finally get his head in front.
Moving to Somerset at 3.15,
It is the Wincanton Handicap Hurdle. This is a Class 3 race run over 2m 5 1/2f. Top weight here is Harry Derham’s Ninth Loch, who has been racing in France and won at Auteuil in November after previously competing in Listed company.
Derham also runs Nordic Tiger, who was a fair fourth at Doncaster in November.
Gary & Josh Moore’s Authentic Legacy has been running consistently well this season and has been placed on all three of his runs to date but is upped in class here.
Also upped in class is Robbie Llewellyn’s Love Of Neymore, who won at a big price here at Wincanton last month.
I prefer Nicky Henderson’s Kade de Joie, who has won at Fontwell and Lingfield on his last two outings. He moves up a grade here, but the stable must be on a high after some wonderful results over Christmas and New Year.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown, Hunter Legend
3.00 Sandown, Eldorado Allen
3.35 Sandown, Jour d’Evasion
3.15 Wincanton, Kano de Joie
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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