Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
With the big Aintree meeting next week, this Saturday is not the most thrilling racing day of the year considering it’s Easter Saturday. At Haydock, we have the Challenger Series Finals where some of the lesser lights of the chasing fraternity get to compete for some decent prize money. There are three handicaps being televised from the Merseyside course on their last jumps meeting of the season.
Meanwhile, Musselburgh kicks off its flat season on television with four races that include the Scottish Sprint Cup and the Queen’s Cup both of which are handicaps so there should be some decent value to have at both courses. It’s just a case of finding the winners!
Here are my thoughts on this week’s races and this week’s Lucky Fifteen. Happy Easter everyone.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.30 Haydock. Too Friendly
2.40 Haydock. Tim Pat
3.15 Haydock. Itso Fury
3.00 Musselburgh. Vintage Clarets
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The first race on the Haydock card is the 1.30 the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle run over 1m 7 1/2f. Stuart Edmunds’ Bubble Dubl is the current bookies’ favourite after winning a Qualifier at Stratford in March where he won a shade handily.
Dan Skelton’s Too Friendly is also fancied, though he disappointed at Kempton last month after a good season of placed runs. He drops back in trip here and is expected to go close.
Dr Richard Newland’s Whizz Kid won a small race at Doncaster in early March. He just got up that day but more is required here.
I like Pam Sky’s Takeit Easy who goes well on good ground and he may get that here. He can hit the frame but I side with Too Friendly.
At 2.40 it is the Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase, a 3m 1 1/2f contest. The top weight and one of the favourites is Ben Pauling’s Mucho Max who has won his last two races latterly at Sandown last month but he has plenty of weight here.
At the other end of the handicap is Dan Skelton’s Jeffery’s Cross who has racked up three seconds in his last three races. But he has not been seen since running at Fontwell on Boxing Day.
Dr Richard Newland’s Enquarde won the Tommy Whittle here at Haydock in 2021 and was second in this last year. However, his runs this year have not been up to the mark and he would do well to be placed.
I will side with Donald McCain’s Tim Pat who was pulled up in February here at Haydock, he lost a shoe that day so I’ll forgive him that run. That was a Class 1 race and prior to that he was only beaten a neck at Doncaster in January. He has the ability to take this.
The Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle which is run at just over 3 miles is at 3.15. Dan Skelton has the favourite here with Farmer’s Gamble who won at Exeter at the beginning of February where he romped home by 14 lengths. He is short-priced to compete for a double and represents little value.
Up near the top of the handicap is Harry Whittington’s Docpickedme who comes here going for a hat-trick after wins at Southwell and Doncaster. He can go close even with his high weight.
As a big outsider, I like Christian Williams’s Pileon who has laboured without success this season. He was tailed off last time but ran a fair second to Docpickedme the time before at Doncaster. He has a chance to be placed at a big price.
But my idea of the winner is Jonjo O’Neill’s Itso Fury who won twice earlier in the season. Since then, he has been placed at Ascot and Taunton. He can get back to winning ways here.
Moving north to Scotland with the flat meeting at Musselburgh and the 3.00 is the tote World Pool Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap which is a sharp 5-furlong contest. Relying on last year’s form is very difficult as are recent all-weather runs. However, K R Burke’s Silky Wilkie has been running well on other surfaces and could go well here.
David Barron’s Zarzyni won this last year but his form fell off a cliff after that added to that he has 7lbs more than last year so he has a difficult task.
Ed Walker’s Came From The Dark won a Group race at Sandown back in 2021 but was unsuccessful last season. I can’t see him getting back to top form here.
Richard Fahey is one of the most astute trainers in the parade ring and he sends Vintage Clarets here. He was a beaten favourite on his last run at the end of last season and prior to that, he had two seconds to his name. He looks to have a very good chance here.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.30 Haydock. Too Friendly
2.40 Haydock. Tim Pat
3.15 Haydock. Itso Fury
3.00 Musselburgh. Vintage Clarets
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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