2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Preview – DS
2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Preview
We managed to avoid the blank last weekend thanks to Tashkan who placed at 28s. This weekend we have a mix of flat and jumps action, Dave Stevos’ 2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday tips are below.
1.45 Kempton – Adonis Hurdle (Grade 2)
Nothing really leapt off the page in the first couple of races and I was going to swerve this race too but after looking back at the Cheltenham Grade 2 contested by One Horse Town and La Luna Artista last month, I think the latter horse is a shade too big here at odds of 12/1.
A winner of her first two races, a bumper at Exeter and a 3yo hurdle at Warwick, this daughter of Spanish Moon ran better than the result suggests at Cheltenham. One Horse Town was always in prime position but as they came to the final flight Jane Williams’ filly got squeezed up, was a bit short of room and lost a fair bit of ground.
Now, it is hard to say if she would have beaten One Horse Town if she got a clear run but she certainly would have finished closer than the 2.25l she finished behind him. Harry Derham’s charge is 11/4 for this rematch and La Luna Artista is 12s. At the prices, I know who I’d rather be on.
2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Tip: La Luna Artista e/w @ 12/1
2.00 Lingfield – Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)
Just five run in Lingfield’s feature race and to be honest, I don’t have a strong opinion on it. The top three in the market are well clear on ratings and will likely dominate so we’ll be giving this race a wide berth. No bet.
2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Tip: No Bet
2.25 Kempton – Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Just four runners and with no each way betting available, this is another no bet race. Jax Junior is the one to beat but that is reflected in his skinny odds. Old Cowboy might go well at a price but he’ll likely need one or two of these to underperform for him to win.
2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Tip: No Bet
2.43 Newcastle – Eider Handicap Chase (Class 2)
A first prize of over £40k is up for grabs in this near 4m2f marathon. Ten will go to post and last year’s winner, Knockanore, is back to defend his crown. Ryan Potter’s stayer is a long way out of the handicap this time thanks to the presence of Mr Vango and he is running off an 11lb higher mark than last year. That makes things tougher but his stamina is assured and he might leave his recent modest form behind.
He’s not that big a price though and the one I am going to chance is Red Delta at odds of 14/1. This son of Ocovango is a stout stayer and while he is 3lb out of the handicap, Charlie Maggs’ 5lb claim negates that.
Fine Season
This 7yo has had a fine season so far. Three runs have resulted in two wins and a second and he stayed on strongly to score over just short of 3m4f (gd-sft) at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, the furthest trip he has tackled.
He is 11lb higher here and this is a deeper race but this lad hasn’t got that many miles on the clock and, most importantly for this race, he stays longer than the mother-in-law. It would be great to see another small stable land this prize, hopefully Red Delta gives Fiona Needham something to shout about at odds of 14/1.
2026 Newcastle Saturday Tip: Red Delta e/w @ 14/1 NAP
3.00 Kempton – Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
What’s this?! A 12 runner Grade 2?? Cor blimey! Yes, that’s right, a field of 12 are due to go to post for this 2m Grade 2 hurdle and it looks a really open heat. The one I have come down on at a half-decent price is the Chris Gordon trained 6yo, Kocktail Bleu.
By Magneticjim, who is the sire of the recent Cheltenham Grade 2 winner Kripticjim, this 6yo probably didn’t appreciate the heavy ground when he was a beaten favourite in a Kelso novice last weekend. However, he ran a fine race on his previous start at this venue, finishing 2.5l behind the well-regarded Baron Noir.
Once there isn’t too much rain, he should get much better ground here and I think his price is a bit of an overreaction to that last run. Chris Gordon won this race in 2022 with Aucunrisque, hopefully he repeats the dose with Kocktail Bleu in 2026.
2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Tip: Kocktail Bleu e/w @ 16/1 (4 places) NB
3.15 Fairyhouse – Bar 1 Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3)
I’d have been all over Intense Raffles here if he hadn’t run so badly at Gowran when he got his favoured ground. I am waiting for better ground before tipping Jordans, who I believe is a Grade 1 staying chaser in the making. I also think Stellar Story has the ability to go close in a Grade 1 chase on bottomless ground and he gets his favoured conditions for the first time this season here.
On his last start on testing ground, he just failed behind Better Days Ahead at Navan. His Albert Bartlett win came on heavy and overall, his form figures under Rules on ground with soft and/or heavy in the description read 311221141.
He won a bumper at this venue and his Grade 2 chase win came at Punchestown, so he goes right-handed and I think it’s interesting that Elliott is putting blinkers and a tongue tie on him for the first time. His runs this term haven’t been great but he hasn’t had his ground, hopefully Stellar Story rediscovers his best here at odds of 11/1.
2026 Kempton & Lingfield Saturday Tip: Stellar Story e/w @ 11/1
3.35 Kempton – Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier)
Even though Harry Skelton seemingly prefers the prospects of Hoe Joly Smoke, I believe Boombawn is worth backing e/w here with Harry Atkins taking off what could be a valuable 7lb.
Just two starts ago this son of Dylan Thomas ran an absolute cracker in a 2m4f Grade 2 here, finishing 2.25l behind Edwardstone. At Aintree in October, he was beaten just over 4l behind Hitman in a Grade 2 handicap (2m4f, gd-sft) and with Atkins’ claim, he is effectively 9lb lower here.
Another cause for optimism is his record at Kempton. His form figures at this venue over hurdles and in chases read 1123, with the two places coming in Grade 2 company. The main concern is the fact that he has yet to race beyond 2m6f but he has won at 2m5f around here over hurdles and given his sire, you’d have to be hopeful that his stamina holds out.
At odds of 20/1, Boombawn is the each way selection.
