Stratford Racecourse - preview and tips for Saturday’s seven-race meeting
Tips for Saturday as winter jumps season kicks in
The winter jumps season is properly underway now and there are seven races to enjoy at Stratford this Saturday.
Here is a preview of and tips for the Stratford card, brought to you by Sporting Life.
We open with a maiden hurdle run over two miles and six furlongs (13.39).
Tao Enki appears to like this good ground and might be handy here, stepping back into maiden company, and the trip should be okay for him.
But Nick Scholfield’s Seamy Appletart looked good on hurdle debut in Ireland in August and he looks exciting on UK and stable debut.
Race two, run over the same trip, is a novices’ handicap chase (14.13).
Kilworth was consistent in the spring and is certainly a horse for this ground description, so she looks good once again on reappearance.
Ignore The Door has first-time headgear on but was very well beaten on chase debut.
Depalma, however, for the Skeltons, is the big, improving danger.
The third race is an extended two mile mares’ handicap hurdle (14.49).
Watamu won her last start in March and starts here on the same mark.
She has to be fancied, but Hello Sweety has the fitness advantage after a winning run in September, and she still looks competitive.
Ride Like A Girl, though, was another winner last time who steps back into handicap company and she is the one to beat.
Race four is a two and three-quarter mile handicap chase (15.34).
Bahtiyar is on a much more attractive mark now and could get the job done, while Mersey Street might still be competitive two pounds higher than a narrow win last time out at Fontwell.
Following is a two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle (16.18).
Seraphic’s trainers are in great form at present and the gelding is on a workable mark for the start of the season, so should enter calculations.
Granny B could go well, down two pounds from last time, and Crown Of India could work his way into a place.
Second to last is a novices’ handicap chase run over two miles and a furlong (16.55).
Onehundredneighty is in first-time cheekpieces here, which should help him get another result after he proved that he can still perform at this mark last time.
Applejack Poet, though, is the other to watch out for, down a pound from scoring third place last time out.
Last of all is an extended two-mile female jockeys’ handicap hurdle (17.25).
Made All looks handy, given seven pounds by his rider, while Mayday Games - who won over course and distance last time - looks capable once again, having won last time out and not been penalised too harshly.
Ashdown Forest might be a danger, though.
Stratford selections - Saturday
13.39 - Seamy Appletart
14.13 - Depalma
14.49 - Ride Like A Girl
15.34 - Bahtiyar
16.18 - Seraphic
16.55 - Onehundredneighty
17.25 - Mayday Games