2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Preview

It was another weekend to forget last week. History Of Fashion ran out when still in with a small place chance. Bedford Flyer, Starcrossed Lover and Charlie Uberalles failed to land a blow as our tough run continues. Dave is hoping to get something back this weekend, his 2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday preview is below.

2.05 Doncaster – Mares’ Novice Hurdle (Listed)

We landed a big priced winner in this last year with Pinot Rouge at 25/1. However, it is hard to see a similar upset this time around. World Of Fortunes carries a 5lb penalty for her listed win at Limerick last October and while she has come up short in graded company the last twice, this looks a good opportunity for her to get back to winning ways.

The most interesting one at bigger odds is Carrig Kate. A Perth bumper winner, she has run well in her first three starts over hurdles. Those efforts earned her a mark of 113 and that puts her right in the mix for third here.

She ran a fine race on her second start over timber in a Bangor novice, beaten a neck by the 121 rated Beaufort Scale. The first two pulled well clear of the third Latenightrumble who has since won a handicap chase off 110 and is now rated 119. Carrig Kate got outpaced dropped back to 2m4f last time and she should do better now stepped back up in trip. At odds of 14/1, hopefully she can sneak some black type.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: Carrig Kate e/w @ 14/1

2.20 Kelso – Bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

The handicapper has dropped Innox Allen to 121 and if he can get back to the sort of form he showed when making all in his first two starts over hurdles at Hexham and Ayr he is capable of hitting the frame here.

We have backed this horse twice before. He placed for us in a Grade 2 at Haydock (albeit a remote place) and we backed him last time out when he disappointed at the same venue, both over 3 miles. He ran a much better race when fourth on his chasing debut and seasonal return at Uttoxeter on his penultimate start under Derek Fox and he returns to the plate today.

The drop back to 2m5f offers hope of a revival and he won his point on yielding so he should be effective on the good to soft ground. Now, this horse has had a wind op and he wears a tongue tie so there are risks attached, but odds of 12/1 are just about big enough to warrant an e/w interest.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: Innox Allen e/w @ 12/1

2.40 Doncaster – Handicap Chase (Class 2)

Not a betting race for me. I really hope Tommy’s Oscar bounces back to form but I have a suspicion that he might need this ahead of maybe targeting the race he won at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr last year. Fingers crossed he puts in a clear round and shows some of that old spark.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: No Bet

2.55 Kelso – Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

A cracking renewal. The 129 rated Vanderpoel heads the betting for Ben Pauling and the in form Ben Jones. He made a good impression at Ludlow three weeks ago but this is a whole lot harder. The Mullins’ raider Chart Topper won at Wetherby last month, beating a 125 rated rival by 4.75l, and I am a bit surprised he’s not a lot shorter than 4/1.

However, I am also surprised that Dedicated Hero is as big as 11/1. He landed a Grade 2 at Haydock last time out and he won that despite the fact that Ryan Mania dropped his whip. That came over 15.5f but he stayed on well and he looks well worth another go at this trip. The 124 rated runner up Cloonainra chased home the talented Tripoli Flyer at Musselburgh on her next start so the form does look decent.

That run came on soft ground, as did his first bumper win at this track. However, it was good ground when he won a class 2 bumper here in May and he made it three wins from three at Kelso when landing a maiden hurdle here in December. Odds of 11/1 look all wrong to me so back Dedicated Hero e/w.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: Dedicated Hero e/w @ 11/1

3.15 Doncaster – Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (Class 2)

Erne River looks a shade overpriced at odds of 14/1. Nick Kent’s son of Califet loves it around here and he has shaped like he is coming back to form on his last two starts, both at this venue. He was beaten 4.25l in a handicap hurdle here in December and he ran a solid race when returned to the bigger obstacles a month later, finishing fourth in the Great Yorkshire handicap off 131.

Now, that was admittedly a remote fourth but he put in a nice clear round of jumping and he needed that from a confidence perspective. The handicapper dropped him 1lb to 130 for that run so he is now 4lb below his last win, which came here over 3m on good to soft ground.

Overall, this lad has course form figures of 11215U44 and while he has yet to win over this far, he did shape like he might be worth another go at the distance last time. You’d imagine he’ll definitely be trying his best too, which is always a plus in these races, so at odds of 14/1, Erne River is the e/w selection.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: Erne River e/w @ 14/1 (4 places)

3.30 Kelso – Morebattle Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

Cracking Rhapsody won this for us last year at odds of 16/1 and I would imagine he has been trained for it again. Ewan Whillans’ stable star is 3/3 in handicaps over C&D, winning off 115, this race last year off 119 and winning off 127 on his penultimate start in December.

He got hiked up 5lb for that last  win and his only run since came at Windsor, a quirky track that probably didn’t suit. He’s been given a nice break since that run six weeks ago and there could yet be a bit more wriggle room for him from a handicapping perspective off 132.

We know he loves the track, it was similar ground when he won last season and he’s had a relatively light campaign. At odds of 12/1, back Cracking Rhapsody e/w.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: Cracking Rhapsody e/w @ 12/1 Nb (5 places)

3.45 Newbury – Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap (Premier)

Now that he is stepping back up in trip after a below par effort over 2m at Warwick, Tedley can go well here. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge ran well in a valuable handicap chase at Ascot in January despite meeting plenty of traffic problems. He ran on well for fifth, beaten just under 8l for the win off a mark of 130.

He is 2lb lower now and he returns to the venue of his best run over fences. Back in November he was narrowly denied by Kalif Du Berlais (who was in off 135) over C&D off 124 and that horse is now rated 152. Jamie Brace knows him well, soft ground is fine and he won’t be inconvenienced if it dries out a bit. At odds of 18/1, Tedley looks a solid e/w bet.

2025 Kelso & Newbury Saturday Tip: Tedley e/w @ 18/1 (5 places) Nap

-DaveStevos