Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips – DS
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Preview
Last weekend was a complete and utter disaster from start to finish. Doyen Breed managed to sneak into the first two but Fern Hill was outclassed. Larry also came up short and Mint Condition never raised a gallop. The ground ended up too soft for Straw Fan Jack and Dashel Drasher had an off day. Hopefully this weekend goes better, check out our Newcastle, Lingfield and Kempton Saturday preview and tips below.
1.15 Kempton – Handicap Chase (class 3)
We’ve backed Deyrann De Carjac e/w the last twice and on both occasions he landed place money. Those runs came in Grade 3 handicaps at Cheltenham, and this represents a huge drop in class. Alan King’s 9yo son of Balko was beat over 10L in both those Cheltenham races into 5th off 133 and 131 respectively. The handicapper has given him even more relief after his last outing and he is in today off a rating of 129. He is surely capable of going close off that sort of a mark now dropped into a class 3 event.
This will be his first run away from Cheltenham this term. His last chase win came at Huntingdon in a Novice back in 2019. Huntingdon is a flat, right handed sharp track and Kempton is very similar. The favourite, Flegmatik, may not appreciate this drop back in distance whereas this is Deyrann De Carjac’s optimum trip. Foxboro could prove to be the biggest danger but at odds of 4/1, I’m backing Deyrann De Carjac on the nose.
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips: Deyrann De Carjac win @ 4/1
1.30 Lingfield – Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed)
Scott Dixon has been amongst the winners in recent weeks. His son of Swiss Spirit, One Night Stand, looks a shade overpriced here at 16/1. Hollie Doyle gets the leg up on this 5yo and he has run well on his last couple of starts. Last month he scored off a mark of 86 here over 6f, making all for a 1.5L win. Dixon decided to step him into Listed company over the same C&D next time and he ran a blinder, beat just 2L behind Spycatcher.
He found things tougher at Wolverhampton back in handicap company. However, on that Listed run, he has a place chance here. He finished a head in front of Exalted Angel (3/1 today) and less than 0.5L behind the 110 rated Good Effort and the 105 rated Soldier’s Minute. In that race he actually led at the 1f pole before getting headed late on so on that evidence, 5f around Lingfield should suit. One Night Stand isn’t one for maximum stakes but he should make a bold bid from the front. At 18/1, he is worth chancing each way.
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips: One Night Stand e/w @ 18/1
1.50 Kempton – Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
After watching the exploits of Porticello on his last couple of runs, it is difficult to oppose Knight Salute here. This son of Sir Percy is 4/4 over hurdles and he was almost a length too good for subsequent Grade 1 scorer Porticello at Doncaster last time out (16f gd/sft). That was his second Grade 2 win after his smooth success at Cheltenham in November. Milton Harris gave him a couple of months off during the winter and he now has his prep run for the Triumph. If he wins this, as he should, the 16s available for him at Cheltenham won’t be long disappearing. The one to beat.
With 11 runners, I am going to take a chance on one at a bigger price e/w. I thought that Iroko ran a grand race on his UK debut for Olly Greenall. With that outing under his belt and on better ground, he could get into the shake up today at 20/1. That run at Chepstow behind Porticello was an excellent effort considering it was only his second start over hurdles. The first one came in France in September (18f v sft) when he finished a decent 2nd to Intense Raffles. That form has been franked with the winner, 3rd and 5th all winning comfortably since.
In that Chepstow Grade 1 Iroko wasn’t given a hard race and I’d imagine it was a sighter to see where they stood with him. Now they know that he has plenty of ability and I would expect to see a big step forward on Saturday. His dam is related to a few decent ground winners so hopefully the conditions will be fine and in form Jonjo O’Neill jr keeps the ride. At odds of 20/1, Iroko is the each way selection.
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips: Iroko e/w @ 20/1 (4 Places)
2.05 Lingfield – Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)
You know the flat season is drawing closer when you see horses of this calibre returning to action. Lord North is a multiple Group 1 winner and he was last sighted winning the G1 Dubai Turf easily in March 2021. He has an excellent record when fresh and with a rating of 123, if he is even 90% fit he should win this.
His main rival on the figures is Alenquer. This fella has come up short at the top level but he is a former G3 and G2 winner. The son of Alderflug is rated 115 so he looks to be facing an uphill task vs Lord North off level weights. He is a horse that enjoys getting his toe in on turf and this is his first all-weather start. So, for today, he is best watched.
At huge odds, perhaps King of The South can run into a place. This son of Kingman is rated 104 so he’ll need a career best to win. However, the 5yo has run to around 108/109 on two of his last three starts and he has just 2L to find with Fancy Man from their meeting over C&D earlier this month. He may not be able to turn that around but he got bumped at the start and the Hannon horse got first run in the straight. If Alenquer or Lord North fluff their lines, King of The South could sneak into the first three.
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips: King of The South e/w @ 28/1
2.25 Kempton – Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Just the five go to post in this Grade 2 contest and it makes no appeal as a betting heat. On ratings, Pic D’Orhy should win. Minella Drama would be getting 7lbs from him in a handicap so off level weights, he looks up against it if the fav runs to form. Fantastic Lady is progressing well and in receipt of weight, she could pose the biggest threat. Millers Bank has failed to complete the last twice and Goa Lil looks to be out of his depth. No bet.
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips: No bet
3.00 Kempton – Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Eight are due to go to post for this 16f Grade 2 hurdle, hopefully they all run. Previous course winner Shallwehaveonemore is an exciting prospect and he looks to follow up his 20L win at Sandown last time. His bumper win came at Kempton and his only disappointing run came on his sole start on heavy behind Constitution Hill. Today’s conditions should be a lot more to his liking and the son of Authorized is a worthy favourite.
At bigger odds, perhaps Moriko De Vassy can make his presence felt. Trained by Tom Symonds, this horse is unbeaten when he has completed. The form of his bumper win has worked out fairly well and he has won two of his three starts over hurdles. The sole defeat came when he fell two out at Huntingdon on his penultimate start. This fella can make the odd mistake but it was reassuring to see that his fall didn’t dent his confidence too much when he won at Doncaster last time out. He had Russian Ruler 7L behind that day and he is 5lbs better off with him today. Aidan Coleman keeps the ride and at odds of 12/1, Moriko De Vassy is the each way pick.
Lingfield and Kempton Saturday Tips: Moriko De Vassy e/w @ 12/1
3.15 Newcastle – Eider Handicap Chase (Class 2)
If you read my Grand National ante-post preview, you’ll know who I am tipping up here. I have backed Domaine De L’Isle at odds of 100/1 for that contest and he is still that price with Coral. If he runs a big race here, which I think he will, then I can see his price getting clipped in for the big one. Sean Currran’s son of Network is burdened with top weight today off a mark of 144 but Jack Wildman takes off a handy 7lbs so that is a big help.
If the ground was soft I’d be worried about his weight but on this ground he should be absolutely fine. He has had a light campaign this season, running just three times. After being pulled up on his return he ran a nice race on ground that was too soft for him in the Becher. Curran gave him a rare spin over hurdles last month to keep him ticking over and he should now be ready for a fruitful Spring campaign.
I think this horse is crying out for an extreme trip like this on nice ground. He finished really strongly over 26f (gd) at Cheltenham in April last season off 144 and it was similar story over the same distance in the Becher. He won easy off 130 on his only previous visit to Newcastle so he ticks the course form box. Interestingly, the horse he beat into 2nd actually won this race last year (Sam’s Adventure). With six places on offer, Domaine De L’Isle is the each way NAP of the day.
Newcastle Saturday Tips: Domaine De L’Isle e/w @ 10/1 NAP (6 Places)
3.37 Kempton – Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
We finish off proceedings with another quality handicap. 24f awaits a field of 14 and you could make a case for at least half a dozen of them. Annsam is the market leader for Williams and Wedge. We’ve backed this horse the last twice. He placed for us at Newbury before winning easily upped to this distance at Ascot.
The key to this headstrong sort is getting him to settle. He has a very big engine but sometimes he can be too keen. If Wedge gets him into a rhythm early he could lead these on a merry dance. I think a 6lb rise for his last win is far from insurmountable and he has serious claims if he applies himself properly.
Cap Du Nord ran a decent race last time out at Doncaster, even if he was beat 19.5L. He didn’t jump well at all and if he can improve in that department, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him staying on and challenging for a place at the very least. He is looking dangerously well handicapped now too off 127.
Trip To Suit Zanza
Zanza was bitterly disappointing last time out at Cheltenham but it was too soft for him. This fella is far better on a sounder surface and on his penultimate starts behind Coole Cody and poor old Midnight Shadow at Cheltenham, he has serious claims here. Those two runs came over 20f and on both occasions it looked like he was crying out for further. He tries 24f for the first time today and I think it is going to suit him.
He is racing off the same mark as when beat 2L by Coole Cody in December. His seasonal return when 3.75L behind Eldorado Allen is looking like decent form now too. His dam was a three time P2P winner and his sire Arcadio has produced some strong stayers (Crievehill/Go Conquer) so he should have the stamina for this trip. Kempton is a good track at which to try 24f for the first time and if Zanza repeats the level of form he showed on his last three completions, he’ll be hard to keep out of the frame.
