Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
A happy and prosperous New Year to everyone, except the bookies, and as we move into the early weeks of 2024, the realisation dawns that we are only 10 weeks to the Cheltenham Festival.
There is very little in the way of top-class racing during the month of January as most of the trainers are hiding away their top hopes for March either because they don’t want us to find out how good they are or are afraid of them incurring an injury.
The two meetings being televised this Saturday are at Wincanton and Sandown. It’s nice to see the cameras at the Somerset track with three Class 3 races being covered while there are four contests from Sandown with the Veterans Chase Series Final the highlight of the day.
It’s always exciting to see these old warriors on a racecourse and they are worth the admission fee alone. Good job really as the backup races are a Listed Mares Hurdle and two Class 2s.
So very little to get excited about but I’ve looked for some value and here are my thoughts for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Heltenham
3.00 Sandown. de Rasher Counter
3.37 Sandown. Spirit d’Aunou/Sans Bruit
2.40 Wincanton. Georges Saint
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
I will begin with Sandown for this week’s bet starting with the 1.50 the Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Chase a Class 2 contest run over 2m 4f.
One of the bottom weights is currently the bookies’ choice Gary Moore’s Hudson de Grugy who is a Sandown specialist having won here four times in his career. He ran here in December (his only run of the season) and finished third, more is required.
Top weight is Dan Skelton’s Unexpected Party who won a Listed race in October. He has been highly tried since and can go well dropping back to handicap company.
Paul Nicholls’s Quel Destin won twice in December and has won here at Sandown and can go close.
The other bottom weight is Venetia Williams’s Georges Saint has won his last two with claimers aboard but this is a step up in class.
My preference is for Dan Skelton’s other runner Heltenham who won at Wetherby in November. His latest race at Aintree last month was a real slog through heavy ground and that race is best forgotten. He can regain winning ways here.
The big race of the day is at 3.00- the Unibet Veterans Handicap Chase- a Class 2 race run over 3 miles. Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Good Boy Bobby is the bookies’ choice after winning over the course and distance in November beating several he meets here once again albeit on better terms.
Olly Murphy’s Thomas Darby won at Warwick in November after being beaten by Good Boy Bobby at Chepstow in October but he has plenty of weight.
Venetia Williams’s Cepage was a Cheltenham winner in December beating Lord Du Mesnil (2nd) and Sam Brown (5th) and I expect him to rubber-stamp those placings, he will go close.
Nicky Henderson’s Mill Green has won at Sandown in the past but has found it hard to win over these longer distances.
Gary Moore’s Larry has also won at Sandown and was 4th here in November behind Good Boy Bobby he is 7lb better off here. Last month he was beaten 23 lengths in a Grade 3 at Ascot – he could spring a surprise.
But I like Emma Lavelle’s de Rasher Counter who was a close 2nd behind Good Boy Bobby here in November he is 4lb better off in this race and that difference could be enough to take this.
The Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle is at 3.37 a Class 2 contest run over 2 miles. This race looks a shoe-in for Gary Moore’s Spirit d’Aunou who won here in December. He ran up a four-timer last season and all credit to the trainer for sending him out again. Let’s look to see if there is one to trouble him.
Donald McCain’s Word Has It won at Fontwell in November and the 10-year-old has had a break since then but this looks a big ask.
Rebecca Menzies’ The Churchill Lad has bottom weight and he was a fine winner at Haydock last month following up from a good second at Musselburgh the previous month. He has a chance.
But I will plump for Paul Nicholls’s Sans Bruit who comes over from France with a fair record. He has won a Grade 3 and is having his first run for Nicholls, watch the betting.
Finally, the 2.40 at Wincanton is the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase a Class 3 contest run over 2m 4f. Paul Nicholls has the top weight here with Huelgoat who won here in November beating Dibble Decker and Go Steady but he was well beaten at Sandown last month.
Anthony Charlton’s Jacamar is a course winner and was a staying on second here on Boxing Day in a Class 4 race. This step up in class may be too much.
The answer here looks to be Venetia Williams’s Georges Saint who seems to have found his form this season winning his last two contests at Fakenham and Ffos Las, both Class 3 races. He can make it a hat-trick of wins.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Heltenham
3.00 Sandown. de Rasher Counter
3.37 Sandown. Spirit d’Aunou/Sans Bruit
2.40 Wincanton. Georges Saint
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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