Even beyond Champions Day there is so much racing action to enjoy on Saturday. GG tipster Joe Napier has looked to the remaining cards to pick out four best bets for our Lucky 15 tips on the day.
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11.56 Catterick – MAFTING (1pt e/w – )
The unexposed Aajej and inconsistent Ghaiyya are both well capable of winning this, but the latter’s struggles to string performances together and the former’s disappointing effort on his only turf start sway the vote in favour of MAFTING. David O’Meara has always been good at getting one handicapped and this daughter of Too Darn Hot suggested she was now on a very winnable mark when beaten only a head into third at Hamilton at the end of September. She had fallen from an initial mark of 85 after some promising maiden and novice starts, enough for connections to run at Royal Ascot, but struggled initially with variations in trip. However, 1m4f on a decent surface looks ideal based on her profile now and we know already she can go very close off this rating.
1.20 Catterick – KODIAC THRILLER (1pt e/w – 10/1 Betfair/Paddy Power)
He is very much an each-way play given his career record of only two wins from 21 starts, but KODIAC THRILLER’s immensely consistent profile could well help punters along in win and place lucky 15. In ten starts for Mark Walford, he is yet to finish outside the first four, winning at Thirsk over 5f earlier this season, while he has finished second in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap and a 23-runner event at the Curragh since. His weakest effort came last time out when fourth of ten at Hamilton, but that was on soft ground, whereas he will be back on a better surface here. His mark of 82 is the same as his Ripon one and 1lb below his Curragh rating, so he should be able to at least make the frame once again.
2.55 Limerick – WORLD OF FORTUNES (1pt e/w – 5/1 SkyBet/Paddy Power)
This Listed mares’ hurdle can go to the thorough stayer WORLD OF FORTUNES, with the 2m7f trip in her favour. Liam Kenny’s mare won her first three over hurdles last season before being pitched into Graded company, including the 2m6f Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival behind Final Demand. However, she was thoroughly respectable sixth that day before winning a Listed mares’ hurdle at Doncaster over 3m½f next time out. She needs close to 3m to be at her best, as demonstrated when well-held over 2m4f at Fairyhouse but then winning over 2m6f at Ballinrobe last month off a mark of 130. That was on soft, but she is even more capable on quicker and can outstay her opponents here.
3.35 Newton Abbot – TAX FOR MAX (1pt e/w – )
Former Willie Mullins resident TAX FOR MAX was rated 137 at his peak, often competing in the biggest festivals. He is now with Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies after enduring an absence of 786 days since August 2023, ultimately making a low-key debut for his new yard at Market Rasen in September. However, he showed up well for a long way, folding only from the second last, which was almost certainly due to a lack of match practice. The handicapper has dropped him 3lb as a result, but his yard have been firing in winners of late, with five from their last ten runners and if that run in September has brought him back to himself, he is well-treated and still only an eight-year-old.
GG Racing Lucky 15 Tips For Saturday 18th October