Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
There is coverage from three meetings on ITV Racing this Saturday, with a total of nine races being covered from Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock. Lingfield stages its Derby and Oaks trials, which are both Listed races, but neither of which has thrown up Classic winners since 2019, Annapurna and Anthony Van Dyke. Could the big winners be in the field this year?
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Lingfield backs these races up with a Fillies Group 3 and two handicaps. Meanwhile, at Ascot, there are three handicaps being televised, including the Victoria Cup, while Haydock’s mixed meeting has just one televised contest, the Class 1 Swinton Handicap Hurdle. So something for everyone, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.45 Ascot. Deedaydiva
2.20 Ascot. Mudbir
2.55 Ascot. Opportunity
3.15 Lingfield. Back In Black
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Ascot with the 1.45, the Peroni NastroAzzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies Handicap, this is a Class 2 race run over the one mile straight course. The joint top weight and favourite is Andrew Balding’s Zgharta, who won a Class 2 race at Newmarket last season. Aside from that, I can see little to recommend her.
The other joint top weight is William Haggas’s Alobayyah, who is lightly raced. She won a small race at Yarmouth as a 2-year-old but disappointed last season on her two outings.
James Owen’s Radiant Beauty’s victories have come mainly on the all-weather tracks. She ran in March at Kempton in a Listed race but ran down the field.
Sean Woods has Song N Dance here, who won at Newcastle and Leicester at the end of last season. She won a Class 4 on her seasonal reappearance last month and can hit the frame once again.
Politely has won twice on the all-weather this season for trainer Martyn Meade, but this is much tougher.
Alan King’s Deedaydiva won a Class 2 at Sandown last August and ran a good third on her first run of the season at Nottingham last month. She gets a weight-for-age allowance and looks like the answer here.
The big betting race of the day is at 2.20, the Carey Group Victoria Cup, a Class 2 race run over 7 furlongs. John and Thady Gosden’s Mudbir is the current favourite after winning three times last season, most notably a Class 2 at Goodwood in August. He didn’t get a clear run on his final outing and will take all the beating.
Jamie Osbourne’s Hickory won this last year and returns to defend his crown, but he has 12lbs more this time around.
Hamad Al Jehani’s Defence Minister won on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton in March in a Class 3 and may go close once again.
Kevin de Foy’s Shiplake has three career wins to his credit, which have all been on the all-weather. His latest victory at Southwell in January was just a Class 4, and a lot more is required.
Top weight Witch Hunter can go well at a big price for Richard Hannon. He is a past course winner at this grade and won on the all-weather at Newcastle in January.
Ian Williams’s stable is firing well, and his Shafdar must have a chance after winning a Class 4 at Epsom last month. He can be placed, but it’s Mudbir for me.
At 2.55 it is the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Italy Handicap, a 1m 4f Class 3 contest. There is a very warm favourite here in the shape of John and Thady Gosden’s Valedictory, who won a lowly race at Chelmsford last October. He ran a good second in a Class 4 at Newbury last month, beaten only a neck and steps up in trip for the first time.
Owen Burrows’s Al Wasl Storm won twice last season, including a Class 2 maiden at Chester and a Class 4 at Newbury in August. He can feature here.
George Baker’s Gordon Grey ran up a trio of wins last season and has run twice in Bahrain this winter in preparation for this race.
Henrietta Knight’s In The Breeze was a winner in this grade in April last month. He is another for the frame.
James Horton’s Serenity Blue won two Class 5s last season but has struggled in this grade.
William Haggas’s Opportunity won first time out last season in a Class 2 at Haydock. He then ran in Listed and Group company, being eased in his final outing, where he seemed to have a problem if he is over that, he should be able to take this.
For the final leg, I look to Lingfield and the 3.15, the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap, a Class 3 race run over 7 1/2 furlongs. Top weight here is Kevin de Foy’s Mr Swivell, who won three times last season and ran a fine second in a Class 2 at Ascot in September. His weight may be a problem here.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Apotheosis won a Class 2 at Newcastle in December. He has returned after two runs in the Middle East, and he finished a close second at Abu Dhabi in March. He looks like a contender.
Richard Hannon’s Christian David has won twice here at Lingfield, but that was on the all-weather track. He ran a good third in a Class 2 at Newmarket last month.
But my preference is for James Fanshawe’s Back In Black, who has been running in Class 2 races. He ran a good 4th at Newbury last month, and that run should put him spot on for this.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
1.45 Ascot. Deedaydiva
2.20 Ascot. Mudbir
2.55 Ascot. Opportunity
3.15 Lingfield. Back In Black
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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