Best bets for the horse racing this weekend

There’s some decent stuff to enjoy this weekend including the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton and the Classic Chase at Warwick. That said, following a busy Friday afternoon with the Dubai Carnival at Meydan, I am not getting that involved on Saturday. I think it’s a tricky day and with the weather the way it is, Kempton have the frost covers out and are moving the rails, it wouldn’t surprise me if we have a number of late non-runners messing the markets up in the morning and a surprise result or two through the day. I am having three bets, one over the Jumps and two on the All-Weather.  

Best bet for the horse racing at Warwick

I don’t tip many at Warwick by Brave Seasca caught my eye earlier in the week amongst the entries for the Alder Demain & Akers Pms Oxford Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase over two-mile at 1.18. The team of Venetia Williams are in cracking form at the moment and this improving chaser can notch his third victory of the campaign here. For whatever reason he disappointed on his debut over the larger obstacles at Chepstow in November but he then won here over track and trip by ten lengths in December, with the second and sixth coming out and winning since, then won as he liked at Ascot before Christmas with two he beat that day winning since as well. He is climbing up the ratings but a 9lb rise to a mark of 137 still looks workable given the ease of those two victories. Get on at the 11-8.  

Best bet for the horse racing at Lingfield  

The 6f Betway Handicap at Lingfield due off at 2.20 is the race on their card that I am interested in. You can make a case for a few in here but I think it can go to the only mare in the line-up Fizzy Feet. She has won over C&D four times in her career and looked to be back to her best on her last run when second at Wolverhampton. She likes to be at the pointed end from the off, no bad thing round here, and from stall three has the perfect opportunity to lead every yard and show this line-up a clean pair of heels. David Loughanne has his string in pretty good form right now and can nick another nice little pot here. Grab the 11-2.  

Best bet for the horse racing at Chelmsford City

Chelmsford City has the twilight card in Saturday and I fancy one at my local track. Jenson Benson goes in the mile Hockton Family Handicap at 6.15. The four-year-old gelding has been tried over further and up in class recently but it clearly didn’t work out. He is two from two over this course and distance and gets in here only 3lb higher than his mark when he last won in October. With the drop back to eight furlongs, I think, a positive and in a race that should suit, he’s going to be coming late and fast, he is worth an investment at 100-30.  

I will be keeping an eye on a couple of horses as well though not backing them. Defi Du Seuil will make another attempt to get his career back on track in the 2m4½f. Grade Two Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton due off at 2.05. The JP McManus-owned gelding has looked a shadow of his former self since winning the G.1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot back in January 2020. I tipped him last time at Ascot in the hope he might find some of the old sparkle in the Grade Two Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase – he did not. At the weights he has a chance, at his best he’d win hard held, but I can’t back him at the moment. Another I will be watching this weekend is Bob Olinger in the Grade Three 2m4f Kildare Novice Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. Already a very short price for the Turners Novices' Chase at the Festival in March he’ll be no price for this but it will be interesting to see how he goes.

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