Unfortunately, the Saturday Lucky 15 thread only managed to get one winner in the form of Handstands, who was also put up on the main thread. The rest of the Lucky selections ran well below par, even one horse got backed into odds-on and only managed to finish third.
Rizzel's tips
Lecky Watson EVS – Punchestown 12.55
After watching Lecky Watson's win live (on TV, not at the venue), I thought that the form wasn't that strong as Slade Steel was fairly underwhelming, but in comparison to today's race, I think he actually has a solid chance.
On ratings on fences, based on Racing Post ratings from previous chase runs, Lecky Watson will have to step up on what he showed on his chasing debut if he wants to win this Grade 3, but I think that is definitely not out of the equation. At the time of writing, he is a shade above EVS, which is a tad disappointing as I was hoping for at least 7/4 or 2/1, but with the way that the ground has deteriorated in recent weeks, I think this race will turn into a bit of a slog and given Lecky Watson has wins over 3m from his hurdling career, I thought that he was the likeliest winner of this race.
His RPR of his chase debut wasn't fantastic, but that was his first run since the Spring so he was entitled to have needed the run, like quite a few of Willie Mullins' horses this season, and with that under his belt, he can add this Grade 3 to his CV.
Peaches And Cream 20/1 – Punchestown 1.55
With how well the Gavin Cromwell yard is going, not only in the last couple of weeks but this year, I thought Peaches And Cream was worth a chance in this Amateur National race.
Other than a good third place at Kelso, Peaches And Cream has shown very little this year, so it's a bit of a risk going for this selection, but with how Gavin has been pumping in the winners, including yesterday where he had the 1-2-3 in the big pot handicap, a bounce back to form definitely isn't out of the equation for this 10-year-old.
Due to the poor form, it has meant that my selection's handicap mark has declined massively, with him now being 124 rated which means he is on an attractive mark. He has won at this course off a mark of 125 and given he has stayed close to 4m, his stamina will be a big asset for him to win this race as it will be on stamina-sapping conditions.
Upepo 7/2 – Lingfield 3.12
Another yard that is firing on all cylinders in the Tony Caroll yard, so it's a risk going for one of his runners in this race as he has fielded two. I've gone for Upepo as his apprentice, Jack Doughty is doing the steering and he would've had the pick of the horses, so that is enough to sway me away from the Caroll horse.
This horse is 4/5 at the track, and his only defeat at the track was in a race which was blown wide open by a horse who had a very easy lead and managed to get away from the field. but he did very well in the grand scheme of things.
Given his track record, he seems overpriced.
Ornately 5/1 – Lingfield 3.42
I am a fan of backing unexposed horses in Class 6 handicaps like this and that is what Ornately is, so he gets my vote in this finale at Lingfield.
James Fanshawe is a brilliant trainer, who often goes unnoticed and the same can be said about Kaiya Fraser who takes the ride. He has done me plenty of favours late in 2024 on the all-weather, and I think he is mustard, so with him being able to take off 3lbs makes it a no-brainer in this race where Ornately can definitely be too much for the exposed field.
Prior to his first run for James, he had shown very little, but on his first start for the Fanshawe stable we saw a lot more from him and it was nice to see despite him finishing 6th, the result didn't quite tell the full story. With that run under his belt which would've blown away the cobwebs, I think he is the one to be on.
In December 2020 we sadly 
