Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
Just seven races to look forward to on ITV Racing this week from two courses in the centre of the country. It’s pleasing to see a later start to racing as the days are starting to get longer – a sign we are moving into spring.
There are four races from Newbury, which include two Grade 2s, a Class 3 handicap and a Class 1 handicap hurdle, which used to be known as the Schweppes Gold Trophy.
The second meeting is from Warwick, and it is their big day of the year; it’s just a pity about the small fields.
The televised races consist of a Grade 2, a Listed race and a Class 2 Veterans Handicap with only 19 runners in the three races, which does not constitute big prices.
So here are my thoughts for the best value this week, along with this week’s Luck Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Newbury. Up For Parol
2.25 Newbury. Le Patron
3.35 Newbury. Secret Squirrel
3.15 Warwick. Le Milos
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Starting with the 1.50 at Newbury, the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle, a Class 3 race run over 3 miles. The top weight is Rebecca Curtis’s Haiti Couleurs, who has carried on the good work from the end of last season by winning twice this season at Aintree and Cheltenham.
I can’t help thinking that connections have been a little conservative in not pushing him up in class as he has a lot of weight here, which may hold him back, but he still looks like a contender.
Dan Skelton’s Santos Blue won twice last season but has not shown that sort of form this term. His second last time out at Hereford in a 5 runner contest was nothing to write home about.
Stuart Edmonds’s Magical King was third in a Class 2 at Aintree in November, then was a fair second at Haydock the following month in a contest similar to this, a place that is probably the best he can hope for once again.
Robert Walford’s bottom-weight, Shutupshirley, is upped in class after winning his last three races, latterly at Fontwell in December. This is tougher.
I like Jamie Snowden’s Up For Parol, who, after being a well-beaten second at Sandown in December, came out at Ffos Las in January and ran on well to gain a fine victory. He can follow up.
The William Hill Bet 10 Get 10 On Racing Denman Chase is at 2.25. This Grade 2 is run over 2m 7 1/2f and has had some top-class winners over the years. Venetia Williams’s has hit something of a purple patch over the last few weeks and runs Djelo here. He disappointed whe going off as favourite at Windsor last month, having previously won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December.
Ga Law, trained by Jamie Snowden, has been twice runner-up so far this season but ran a shocker last time at Cheltenham.
Paul Nicholls runs both Bravemansgame and Hitman. The latter seems to find one too good too often, whereas Bravemansgame is a past King George winner in 2022, but he hasn’t won since. He was beaten 28 lengths in the latest running of that Grade 1 on Boxing Day. Could the 10-year-old’s best days be behind him?
I give one of the younger entrants a chance; Gary & Josh Moore’s Le Patron was a comfortable winner here at Newbury in November, then ran a shocker at Cheltenham in December.
I feel the undulations of Prestbury Park don’t suit him, and he is better off on a flatter track. He can continue to make his mark here after a fine novice season.
The big race of the day is at 3.35, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, a Class 1 Premier Handicap run over 2m 1/2f. There are 18 runners due to go to post for this top-class contest, with last year’s winner, Iberico Lord, trained by Nicky Henderson, saddled with joint top weight, which is 6lbs more than last year. He disappointed at Windsor last month after reverting to hurdling from a fledgling Chase career.
Henderson also has one of the bottom weights with Joyeuse, who has been placed in a couple of Class 2s at Cheltenham and Ascot. She can go well off a low weight.
Alan King’s Scottish Champion Hurdle winner, Favour And Fortune, has been aimed at this race for some time at what is King’s local course. But he had a setback in training at the start of the season and disappointed at Ascot in December on his seasonal reappearance.
Harry Derham’s Washington has won at Chepstow and Fairyhouse so far this season, and a good run is expected by connections, but he has risen in the weights.
Ben Pauling’s Fiercely Proud was a fine winner at Ascot in December but has also gone up in the weights for that win.
In that Ascot race, Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel was leading until his jumping fell apart over the last three hurdles. He was still leading two out but fell at the last. It says a lot for his tenacity that he came out last month at Windsor and won comfortably, beating several opponents he meets once again here. He can defy a 5lbs penalty and capture this prestigious contest.
Finally, I move to Warwick for the 3.15 Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans Handicap Chase, a Class 2 race run over 2m 4f. I love to see these old favourites still competing, and since January 1st, we have welcomed a new crop of 10-year-olds into the ranks, and there are some top competitors in this field.
Top weight is Richard Hobson’s Fugitif, an ex-Grade 3 winner at Cheltenham who ran third there in another Grade 3 in December when trying to defend the crown he won the previous year.
Olly Murphy’s Grandads Cottage won at Carlisle in December but was pulled up last month at Market Rasen.
Sheila Lewis’s Straw Fan Jack has run down the field in his two races so far this season. His last win was in 2022.
Ben Pauling’s Shakem Up’arry was a winner at last years Cheltenham Festival but he fell there on his seasonal reappearance in December, a better run is expected.
But I also like Dan Skelton’s Le Milos, a past Grade 2 winner. He ran third at Chepstow in December behind a hot favourite, and a bold run is expected. It is noted that stable jockey Harry Skeleton has chosen to come here in preference to Newbury.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.50 Newbury. Up For Parol
2.25 Newbury. Le Patron
3.35 Newbury. Secret Squirrel
3.15 Warwick. Le Milos
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Related Reading
