Chepstow and Kempton Horse Racing Tips – DS
Chepstow and Kempton Preview and Tips
We drew a blank with our UK bets on Boxing Day. Not So Sleepy didn’t stay so once he couldn’t win, I was delighted that Paisley did. Top Ville Ben went well for a long way but got tired. Eldorado Allen finished 4th, like all good e/w bets. Hitman’s lack of top table experience told and his jumping went to pot. He’s still a young horse and there’ll be better days ahead for him. Let’s hope Tuesday goes better, get Dave Stevos’ Chepstow and Kempton preview below.
12.45 Kempton – Juvenile Hurdle (Class 2)
Milton Harris has been the man to follow in these Juvenile Hurdles the last couple of seasons. He has the favourite here, Postmark, and stable pilot Mitch Bastyan rides. A winner off 81 on the flat, he makes his hurdling debut in a decent looking race.
Johnny Burke is on board Harris’ other horse, Highland Frolic. He trailed in by 17L at Wetherby on his hurdling bow and the fact that he has had a wind op and now sports a tongue tie suggests he had breathing issues.
It is hard to make a case for anything at a price here as the ones at double figure odds are either unraced or didn’t show enough previously to fancy. Stuart Edmonds can often do well with his young hurdlers so Chaos Control is one to watch but this is a no bet race.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: No Bet
1.05 Chepstow – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Off a mark of 141, Silver Hallmark could be dangerous in this 19f handicap chase. One of two runners for the Rucker’s, Fergal O’Brien trains and Jonjo O’Neill Jr rides. It is fair to say that last season was a write off for this 8yo son of Shirocco. He was a very promising novice, finishing a head behind Fiddlerontheroof over 19f at Exeter (gd/sft) and then winning a heavy ground Haydock G2 on his last outing of the 20/21 campaign.
Last term he only ran three times and his best run was his first run back. He finished 10L behind Fiddlerontheroof in a 20f Listed heat at Carlisle, a day when he likely needed the run. However, he pulled up next time at Wetherby and then flopped at Kelso in February. It was heavy on that occasion and it was similar conditions when he made his seasonal comeback at Carlisle in October.
He jumped and travelled ok in that race before tiring late on. Although he has won on heavy, his best form has come on better ground and this will be his first start on good to soft since the best run of his career at Exeter. That last Carlisle run should have tightened him up fitness wise and he beat McFabulous by 4L on his only previous run at this track. At odds of 16/1, Silver Hallmark is the e/w selection.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: Silver Hallmark e/w @ 16/1 (4 places) NAP
1.20 Kempton – Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Just four runners and while you couldn’t discount any of them, I’m happy to just watch. Glory and Fortune ran well here behind Epatante over hurdles last year and if he completes, he could be the one to be on. However, this is another no bet race.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: No Bet
1.40 Chepstow – Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
Another one of these juvenile races. Irish raider Comfort Zone heads the betting for O’Brien and Jonjo O’Neill Jr. An easy winner of a Navan maiden last month, he came up short behind Lossiemouth next time in a Fairyhouse G3. As we saw at Leopardstown, there was no shame in that reversal and it would be no surprise were he to boost that Fairyhouse form further.
The home challenge is headed by Scriptwriter for Milton Harris and Perseus Way for the Moore’s. The fact that Mitch Bastyan is at Kempton rather than here suggests that Scriptwriter is not the best juvenile in the yard. However, given Harris’ record in these races you couldn’t discount the son of Churchill. Perseus Way has 2.5L to find with the Harris horse on their meeting at Cheltenham. He hosed up in a maiden at Leicester next time but can he reverse that form? I’m not sure.
Bigger Odds
Another trainer with a solid record with young hurdlers is Jane Williams. Long time followers might remember me tipping a 3yo horse of hers called Galice Macalo a few years back. She fell at the last with the race likely in the bag and from 28 previous 3yo runners, Williams has had 7 winners and 10 places. Jupiter Allen has already contributed a win and a place to those stats and that win came last time out at Kempton.
The runner up from that heat won a 3yo hurdle at Huntingdon next time. It obviously isn’t as strong as the form possessed by some of his rivals but this son of Castle Du Berlais could have plenty more to come. His young sire, a Listed winning chaser by top NH stallion Saint Des Saints, has already produced a G2 placed 3yo in France and I liked his attitude when winning at Kempton. At odds of 33/1, a small e/w interest is advised.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: Jupiter Allen e/w @ 33/1
1.55 Kempton – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Another small field and unfortunately, another no bet race.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: No bet
2.10 Chepstow – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A nightmare of a race to try and solve. The one that looks most overpriced is Lynwood Gold. A useful dual purpose type, he was sold out of Henry De Bromhead’s for just 15k in September after a poor run at Killarney. Barr gave him two months off and he was given a gentle return to action in 18f contest on the level at Pontefract. Three weeks later he had his first hurdle run for his new yard and it resulted in a very easy win at Lingfield on soft ground off 128.
The assessor hiked him 7lbs for that run and that was fair enough considering he won by 6L. He did have a pretty hard race but Barr has given him a nice 48 day break so he should be well over those exertions. The rain is forecast to arrive at around 1pm so by the time of this race, conditions should be softer which will suit this son of Mastercraftsman. He isn’t one for maximum stakes but at 16/1, a small e/w interest is warranted.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: Lynwood Gold e/w @ 16/1
2.30 – Desert Orchid Chase (grade 2)
It is impossible to look past Edwardstone here. He hacked up on his return in the Tingle Creek, his first chase start out of novice company. Greaneteen chased him home but he was 9L behind. This time Nube Negra looks to be his main rival. He won easily at Cheltenham on his return to action and he is a former C&D winner. However, the ground is a big worry as all his best recent form is on good.
Funambule Sivola flopped behind Edwardstone at Sandown but he’s better than that. He had a wind op in the off season and soft ground will suit him well. It is hard to fancy any of the others in this contest and it looks destined to be fought out among the market principals. Yet another no bet Kempton race.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: No Bet
2.50 Chepstow – Welsh Grand National (Premier)
We’ve already backed Fortescue at 20s for this race and you can read why here. With the forecast rain likely to turn the ground testing before the off, I’m going to give Regina Dracones another chance. We have backed Tom Gibney’s mare the last twice. On the first occasion, her seasonal comeback, she fell early on in the Troytown.
We were on again last time when she ran in the Porterstown. It looked like she was going to fade right out of it after travelling very strongly but after she jumped the last, she seemed to get her second wind and she stayed on again, just failing to get back up for 4th. That race was run over a trip of 29f and on that evidence, this extra furlong should suit.
I’m hoping that she might just have needed that Fairyhouse run and that she will be much fitter now. She’ll race prominently, which I like in these big fields, and we’ll also be on Fortescue who will be ridden quietly so we have both angles covered. This daughter of Kalanisi has a big staying handicap in her at some stage, hopefully it is this one. At 40/1, Regina Dracones is the e/w selection.
Chepstow and Kempton Tip: Regina Dracones e/w @ 40/1 (5 places) NB; Fortescue already advised @ 20/1 (4 PLACES)
3.09 Kempton – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Finally, a decent betting heat at Kempton. £26k is up for grabs for the winner of this 24f handicap and 15 run. Tom Cannon picks up a nice ride on Striking A Pose here with regular pilot Brendan Powell riding at Chepstow today. Soft ground is ideal for this son of Getaway and the 6yo made a pleasing return to action when a distant 3rd behind Dorking Lad over 20f at this track.
Last February he ran arguably his best race when beat 2.75L off 131 at Chepstow (23f sft). He races off the same rating today, just 3lbs above his last winning mark. Tom Cannon has a win and a place from just three rides for Tizzard and six of his ten runners finished in the first four on Boxing Day (one winner). Hopefully he improves for that last run and this step back up in trip and if he does, he might sneak a place at 33/1. This is a very competitive race so keeps stakes modest.
