Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Sandown stages its usual pre-Cheltenham meeting this weekend, with the Imperial Cup the highlight of the four races being shown from the Esher course. This Class 2 handicap is backed up by a Class 1 Premier Handicap, a Class 3 handicap, and a Listed NH Flat race.
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The second meeting being televised is the all-weather card at Wolverhampton with three races featured from the Midlands track. Here are my thoughts on the best value from the seven races being shown and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Precious Metal
2.27 Sandown. Ooh Betty
3.00 Sandown. Calimystic
2.42 Wolverhampton. Two Tempting
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Sandown with the 1.50, the EBF Betfair ‘National Hunt’ Novices Handicap Hurdle Final, this is a Grade 3 Novices race run over 2m 4f. The top weight here is David Pipe’s Gentleman Toboot, who is a dual winner this season and was last seen running third at Leicester in December in preparation for this.
Olly Murphy’s Scorpio Rising has won all three of his outings this season. It remains to be seen if he can make this move up to a graded company.
Dan Skelton’s Unknown Entity has been placed on both starts this season. It remains to be seen how he can perform in this company.
I like Henrietta Knight’s Precious Metal, who won a Listed NHF race last season. He won his maiden at Lingfield in December, then ran third in heavy ground here at Sandown in January in preparation for this. A bold run is expected.
At 2.27, it is the Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle, a Class 2 contest run over the sharp 2 miles. Beginning with Olly Murphy’s Go Dante, who has won this race on the last two occasions and who also won here in December. However, he was struggling when pulled up at Newbury last month.
Ben Clarke’s Ooh Betty produced a fine victory at Ascot in January, winning a Grade 2 at Ascot. A reproduction of that form will see her go very close.
Neil King’s Rubber Ball won a Class 3 at Newbury last month, coming home easily. This is tougher.
Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Wreckless Eric was second last year, but his form so far this season has been poor.
Paul Nicholls’s Afadil was third last year. He ran a good second at Musselburgh in January in readiness for this. So, in a very open contest, I trust Ooh Betty’s form continues to improve, and she can take this.
The Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase is at 3.35. This Class 3 chase is 3 miles long. Top weight is Lydia Richards’s old-timer, Certainly Red, who has won twice here at Sandown during his career, but this looks beyond him.
Paul Nicholls’s Welcome To Cartries was a course and distance winner in December but was pulled up at Ascot the following month. He is probably best watched.
Ben Pauling’s Sound And Fury won at Carlisle last month and has risen in the handicap since that win.
Down at the bottom of the weights is Tom Lacey’s Tune In A Box who ran a fine third at Newbury last month, a repetition of that form can see him go close once more. But my preference is for Nicky Henderson’s Calimystic, who won at Newbury in December. He can continue his winning ways here.
At Wolverhampton, their big handicap of the day is the BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap at 2.42. This is a Class 2 race run over 1m 1/2f on the all-weather track. The top weight and current favourite is Harry Eustace’s La Botte. He was last seen when running second in a handicap at Royal Ascot where he was only beaten a neck.
Clive Cox’s Kingdom Come won at Kempton last month. His first win in two years.
Andrew Balding’s Regal Ulixes was a comfortable winner at Lingfield last month. He looks sure to go close.
Balding’s other runner, The Lost King, won at Kempton in January, then ran second at the same course the following month when going off a warm favourite.
William Haggas’s First Principle won twice last season, beating Two Tempting.
Johnathan Portman’s Two Tempting is 3lbs better off here, and his third place in a Listed race at Southwell last month was a fine run, and that form can see him take this.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Sandown. Precious Metal
2.27 Sandown. Ooh Betty
3.00 Sandown. Calimystic
2.42 Wolverhampton. Two Tempting
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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