Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There are three fine meetings to take in this Saturday so forget about Cheltenham for a while and enjoy all that National Hunt racing has to offer.
It is Kelso’s big meeting of the year and ITV are covering four races from the Scottish course including a two Class 1’s one of which is a 3 mile Listed Chase which was won last year by Cloth Cap on his way to Aintree for the Grand National where he went off favourite but was unfortunately pulled up, Windsor Avenue could be the one to watch this year.
There are three races being shown from Doncaster, including the Grimthorpe Chase which Cloth Cap has decided to contest instead of going to Kelso. All this is preceded by a couple of contests from Newbury, a Veterans Chase and it’s always a great spectacle to see some old favourites and the Greatwood Gold Cup where some of the best two and a half mile chasers around will ply their trade.
So we have nine races on offer, six of which are handicaps, which gives us plenty to get our teeth into and here are my thoughts for this week.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.55 Doncaster. Bun Doran
3.30 Doncaster. Soyouthinksoagain
3.15 Kelso. Metier
1.50 Newbury. Farinet
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Doncaster with the 2.55 the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase, a 2-mile contest. The top weight here is Jamie Candish’s Cheddleton who while he has run consistently this season has failed to get his head in front in four attempts.
Peter Niven sends Malystic for his first run of the season and although he proved himself a high-class chaser last year, he is probably best watched.
The Big Bite returned to form last time when finishing second here at Doncaster in January for trainer Henry Oliver after previously being pulled up at Aintree, he should go close.
Dan Skelton’s King d’Argent was behind The Big Bite in January and even though he is a couple of pounds better off, I cannot see him reversing that form.
There is probably more interest at the bottom of the handicap. Sandy Thomson’s Cedar Hill won at Musselburgh last month proving he is not just a Kelso horse and it should be noted he comes here instead of his favourite track in Scotland.
But I like Tom George’s Bun Doran who comes here after a two good runs at Sandown since the New Year. He can break his duck for the season.
At 3.30 it is the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase, a 3m 2f race. It should be noted that Jonjo O’Neill sends Cloth Cap here instead of defending a crown he won at Kelso last year. At Ascot last time, he jumped left-handed before refusing at the last fence. He is being tried on a left-handed course in preparation for another tilt at the Grand National and may have too much weight here.
Le Milos looks on a handy mark for trainer Tim Vaughan after wins at Exeter and Sandown and should go close.
Kerry Lee’s Storm Control was a fine winner at Newbury in January then ran a good second here at Doncaster later in the month.
Powerstown Park has won twice at Hereford for Sam Thomas but this is a major step up in class and he may struggle in this company.
Dan Skelton’s Soyouthinksoagain is a young horse who looks to have a bright future. He is relatively inexperienced with only five Chase starts but he has won two, including last time at Catterick and this could be a stepping stone to greater things.
The big race on the Kelso card is the bet365 MoreBattle Hurdle at 3.15 run over 2 miles which has attracted a very interesting lineup. The top weight is Nicky Henderson’s Buveur d’Air who has his first run of the season. This prolific winner is now an 11-year-old and he would have made mincemeat of this lot in his pomp but having to give away lumps of weight may be too much.
There is an Irish raider in the shape of Autumn Evening trained by Mrs John Harrington who won at Fairyhouse in January then ran a fine third in a hot 27 runner handicap at Leopardstown but he has plenty of weight.
Harry Fry’s Metier came back to form when winning at Lingfield in January. A reproduction of that form should see him take this.
Dan Skelton’s Faivoir has run consistently well all season but has been unsuccessful since stepping up in class. He may find similar problems due to the top-rated horses he will meet here.
I will mention Ben Pauling’s Severance at the bottom of the handicap who was a close second or Cheltenham in January. He may be placed but it’s Metier for me.
Moving south to Newbury at 1.50 it is the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap run over two and a half miles.
Ben Pauling has one of the top weights here with Kildisart who has been running in top class company but has not won since April 2019. This is his first run for fifteen months.
At the other end of the handicap is the current favourite, Fergal O’Brien’s Dublin Four who won here at Newbury in November he then fell at Ludlow just before Christmas when looking beaten.
I prefer others. One of which is Amoola Gold who was a good third at Warwick last time out but he may have to settle for a place once again.
Charlie Longsden’s Glen Forsa won last time out at Musselburgh but may find this a little too hot.
Amour De Nuit was also a winner at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day for Paul Nicholls and he is expected to go very close.
But I like Venetia Williams’s Farinet who won a small contest at Sandown in January under a huge weight. The following month he returned there and was sent off favourite but after hitting a hurdle hard 3 out he could make no impression and finished fifth, he can improve on that here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.55 Doncaster. Bun Doran
3.30 Doncaster. Soyouthinksoagain
3.15 Kelso. Metier
1.50 Newbury. Farinet
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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