Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
The UK is really taking a battering from Storm Ciaran with the Champion Chase meeting at Down Royal already lost on Saturday leaving us with Ascot and Wetherby as the two televised meetings.
There are currently four races due to be screened from Ascot with a couple of Premier Handicap Chases the highlight of the day backed up by a Class 2 hurdle and a Class 3 chase.
Wetherby stage one of their most prestigious meetings of the season with the Charlie Hall Chase being the first of the Graded chases of the year and Bravemansgame is entered to defend the title he won last season. This is backed up by a Class 3 handicap and three hurdle races that include a Listed race and Grade 2, so a real quality card from the West Yorkshire course.
The going will be a major factor and I have tried to take this into account with this week’s selections and here are my thoughts for the Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Wetherby. Ladronne
2.05 Ascot. First Flow
3.15 Ascot Teddy Blue
3.45 Ascot. Monbeg Genius
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Wetherby with the 1.15 the Bet Boost at bet365 Handicap Chase a Class 3 run over 2m 3 1/2f. Dan Skelton’s Mount Tempest is one of the fancied horses here, he is ultra-consistent but is upped in distance for the first time. Kerry Lee’s Eaton Collina finished off last season well and has won on soft going but steps up in class here, the trainer would be pleased with a place.
Tom Lacey’s Cruz Control is upped in class and distance and looks to have plenty of weight. Happy And Fine won twice for trainer Alex Hales on his first two outings last season, the going won’t be a problem and he can go close. Pam Sky’s William Cody is another who was consistent last season but he won’t like it too soft, hitting the frame is the best he can hope for.
Tjade Collier’s Ladronne won this last year, he will relish the going and as a proven performer around here can retake this.
Moving south to Ascot and the 2.05 which is the Byrne Group Handicap Chase a Grade 3 run over 2m 1f. Emma Lavelle’s Red Rookie is the bookie’s choice here after winning at the end of March at Warwick then he ran third at Kempton in Class 2 in May, he will be suited by soft or heavy going.
Boothill had a great season last time for Harry Fry winning on three occasions including once here at Ascot, he won’t want it too soft but can go well.
Venetia Williams’s Funambule Sivola won two Grade 2s at Newbury in successive seasons the latest in February then was highly tried on his last two outings where he was unsuccessful, this drop back in class should see him go close.
Paul Nicholls’s Quel Destin was a Class 1 winning hurdler but his switch to chasing has not gone as planned with just one victory in a small race at Lingfield last season, but he must have a chance here off bottom weight.
I look to the other end of the handicap for the winner, Kim Bailey’s First Flow, this is a drop in class for this Ascot Clarence House winner who drops down in distance but the going should suit this 11-year-old.
The Seat Unique Handicap Hurdle is at 3.15, this 1m 7 1/2f Class 2 looks like a close contest with some exciting young hurdlers in attendance. The current favourite is Chris Gordon’s Our Champ who has won twice already this season at Plumpton and Cheltenham in September and October respectively, he should go very close.
Harry Fry’s Altobelli won his first three races in his career then went to Aintree to contest a Grade 1 Novice race in April but was well beaten, he drops down to handicap company.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s bottom weight Chance A Tune has a chance after his fine win at Chepstow on heavy ground last month.
But I like Gary Moore’s Teddy Blue who finished last season with a victory at Plumpton, he then ran a fine second in a Grade 3 at Haydock in May. His first run this autumn was somewhat inauspicious when he unshipped his rider at the second fence at Cheltenham last week, he can make amends for that mistake here.
Finally, it is the richest race of the day, the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 3.45. This is a 3-mile Grade 3 contest. One of the joint top weights is Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen who ran 7th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he finished his season running 4th in a Grade 2 at Sandown.
The other top weight is Kim Bailey’s Two For Gold who ended his year by winning a Class 2 handicap here at Ascot. I think both of these two have too much weight.
Gary Moore’s Larry won the first time out last season with a victory in a Class 3 chase here at Ascot but he disappointed during the rest of the season, that said he goes well fresh and may be placed.
Beauport is fancied and Nigel Twiston-Davies’s is another who won the first time out last year but was then unsuccessful, more is required.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius is the one for me, after three straight wins he ran third in the Ultima at Cheltenham beaten only by Corach Rambler and Fastorslow and O’Neill is looking at further improvement this time around with the Grand National as his ultimate aim, this race will make a good stepping stone.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.15 Wetherby. Ladronne
2.05 Ascot. First Flow
3.15 Ascot Teddy Blue
3.45 Ascot. Monbeg Genius
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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