2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Preview

It was a day to forget last Saturday. None of our four selections hit the frame but hopefully we can get back on track this weekend. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday preview and tips below.

1.50 Kempton – Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Rubaud ran a cracker behind L’Eau de Sud at Warwick two weeks ago and looks worth a go at this trip on that evidence. Ashdale Bob lacks a run and has to give weight away, as does Boombawn who disappointed at Newbury when last seen in November. Mark Of Gold and Imperial Saint could both go well but this is not a betting race for me.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: No bet

2.10 Newcastle – Eider Handicap Chase (Class 2)

Stamina will be at a premium here. A marathon trip of over 4 miles awaits the field of 18 and the ground will be good to soft. Last year’s runner up Prince Des Fichaux is back to try again off 4lb lower but he has pulled up in three of his last four starts and the ground will be very different this time.

One that looks a shade overpriced is the Irish raider History Of Fashion. He has been in excellent form this season, winning off 116 over 3m at Down Royal and then following up off 122 over 3m5f in the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse. He was raised another 7lb for that win and he ran another fine race off that revised mark in a hot Leopardstown handicap on his last start.

The stout stayer finished 6l behind Nick Rockett that day, who won the Thyestes on his next start and 1.5l behind Will Do, runner up in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown this week. Pat Fahy’s charge unseated early in this in 2022, if he can put in a clear round of jumping hopefully he can make amends at odds of 14/1.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: History Of Fashion e/w @ 14/1 (5 places) nb

2.25 Kempton – Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

Just six runners thanks to the defection of the well fancied Henderson pair. Not a betting race for me but our 25/1 Triumph Hurdle ante-post fancy Mondo Man is a short price and if he settles better than he did at Ascot, he will hopefully show what he is capable of. Fingers crossed he wins easily and goes on to run a big race at the festival next month.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: No Bet

2.40 Southwell – Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed)

We are back on the flat for the first time in quite a while. The classy sprinters Diligent Harry and Marshman are big players, as is the Irish raider Valiant Force who has been in great form at Dundalk. One that might go well at a bigger price is last year’s fourth, Bedford Flyer.

Rated 92, he has a fair chunk to find on the figures but he likes it here and he is capable of running to 100+ on a going day. He finished 4l behind Diligent Harry in this last year but he was only a neck behind the 112 rated Clarendon House and that horse is 8/1 here. Bedford Flyer is 25s.

His C&D form figures read 172442 and he was beaten a nose on his last visit in a handicap off 90 in December. He has run well in defeat in his last three starts and hopefully he’ll go well again today. At odds of 25/1, Bedford Flyer is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: Bedford Flyer e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)

3.00 Kempton – Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

With a rating of 139 Miami Magic looks the one to beat on paper. He chased home Potters Charm in an Aintree Grade 1 when last seen on Boxing Day and he hosed up over C&D in a novice on his penultimate start. Good ground suits him and he gets weight from a couple of his main market rivals.

Tripoli Flyer has looked an exciting prospect on his last two starts and he has placed in a Grade 2 bumper. This will be his sternest test to date over timber but he is clearly a talented animal and while giving 3lb to Miami Magic isn’t ideal, it would be no surprise to see him run a massive race.

The one I’ll take a chance on at a decent e/w price is the promising Starcrossed Lover. He retains an unbeaten record over hurdles, winning a maiden at Windsor and a novice at Hereford. Neil Mulholland’s charge beat a well-regarded Nicky Henderson mare when he won at Windsor and she has since won a maiden and holds entries for Cheltenham.

This represents a big step up in class for this son of Pillar Coral but he looks well worth a go at this level and Mulholland’s horses have mostly been running well. With odds of 16/1 on offer, hopefully Starcrossed Lover can hit the frame.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: Starcrossed Lover e/w @ 16/1

3.15 Southwell – Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)

Just seven runners and a race that looks set to be dominated by the horses at the head of the market. No bet.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: No bet

3.35 Kempton – Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier)

A massive pot up for grabs here with a total purse of £150k and a first prize of £85k. We backed Charlie Uberalles when he won a nice prize at Doncaster last time out and I think he is capable of going well again off just 4lb higher.

Trained by Dianne Sayer, Danny McMenamin gets a great tune out of him and he’s been given plenty of time to get over his last race. This horse likes flat tracks and more importantly, good ground. He will relish the underfoot conditions today and he has form figures of 11 on flat, right handed tracks (both wins coming at Perth over 3m on good) so Kempton should suit him.

He has a career high mark to deal with here but the 9yo son of Geordieland hasn’t had that many runs on good ground at 3m so there could be more improvement to come from him. With four places on offer, Charlie Uberalles can hopefully get into the money at odds of 20/1.

2025 Kempton & Southwell Saturday Tip: Charlie Uberalles e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) NAP

-DaveStevos