Kempton Saturday Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos
Kempton Saturday Tips For ITV4 Live Races
Yet again the unpredictable weather did not do us any good at Ascot last weekend. Sam Brown did not give his running but the ground cannot be blamed for that. He just never jumped or travelled and it was a real head scratcher. Like The Sound went well for a long way but emptied quickly and was pulled up. Garo De Juilley again let me down, but the heavy ground was too much for him. I am probably mad, but I’ll be backing him when he gets back on a decent surface. There are no less than five live Graded races on ITV4 today. Check out Dave Stevos Kempton Saturday tips below…
Kempton 1.15 – Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
First up at Kempton on ITV4 is the Pendil Novices’ Chase, a 20.5f Grade 2 contest that has attracted 7 runners. At an absolutely massive price I think Queen’s Magic has been underestimated here. She is only rated 130 but her last run suggested that she may well be better than that. Neil Mulholland’s charge unseated three out at Doncaster when just starting to come with a challenge.
Lady Buttons (150), Happy Diva (149) and La Bague Au Roi (150) filled the first three places in that race. They are three proven, experienced and high class chasers. So, even if Queen’s Magic had completed and only managed a close 4th surely she would be coming into this rated in the mid 140s. She previously won a bad listed race in good style at Huntingdon, a track that is similar to Kempton.
Good to soft ground is ideal and going back right handed should suit too (3311 under rules right handed). Maybe this race will turn out to be stronger than her last outing, but on paper at least it looks weaker. If Queen’s Magic can cut out the jumping errors and puts in a clear round it will be interesting to see how she goes. She gets a nice weight for sex allowance and at odds of 40/1 she is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.
KEMPTON SATURDAY TIPS: QUEEN’S MAGIC E/W @ 40/1 NB
Kempton Saturday Tips: 1.50 – Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
This Juvenile Grade 2 is for 4yos only and the trip is 16f. Form is very difficult to weigh up in these races. Alan King does have a good record in this contest though and the bigger priced of his two entries looks interesting. He also runs Tremwedge but at 12/1 Blame It On Sally could go well. He is a full brother to Praeceps who was 3rd in this race last season.
This gelding was a very useful performer on the level for Mark Prescott, winning 3 times from 12f to 16f. That suggests that he should have no issues getting today’s trip. He has not run since September last year but Alan King can get one ready first time up. Tom Cannon rode Tremwedge last time and he gets off him to take the ride on Blame It On Sally today. 3 of Alan King’s last 4 runners have won and at odds of 12/1 hopefully Blame It On Sally keeps the good run going this afternoon.
KEMPTON SATURDAY TIPS: BLAME IT ON SALLY E/W @ 12/1
Kempton Saturday Preview: 2.25 – Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2)
Only a small field and not a race I’ll be getting involved in. Ch’tibello probably has the strongest form and will like the ground. Song For Someone has impressed the last twice but the ground is very different for him here. Diego Du Charmil and Elgin are others with claims and it looks a tight race. No bet.
KEMPTON SATURDAY TIPS: NO BET
Saturday Racing Tips: 3.02 – Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Nine will line up behind the tapes for this Grade 2 Novice Hurdle run over 16f. Buzz is the 9/4 jolly for Henderson and De Boinville. He showed guts to prevail in his last two races and he clearly has the stomach for a scrap. The horse he beat into second last time won a Grade 2 next time out so the form looks decent. Especially if you consider he was giving that rival 12lb in weight.
Highway One O Two’s owner does very well at Kempton but his best form is on much softer ground than today’s. At the prices, West Cork looks worth backing each way. The Skeltons team up with this son of Midnight Legend who is on a hat trick. He has won his last two at Huntingdon, a track that is not dissimilar to Kempton. West Cork has winning form on today’s ground too and he looks a progressive horse. His form is not up to the level of Buzz but he looks to be still on the improve. At odds of 13/2 he is the each way selection.
KEMPTON SATURDAY TIPS: WEST CORK E/W @ 13/2
Saturday Preview: 3.35 – Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
My each way NAP of the day goes in this 3 mile Grade 3 handicap chase. It could be a good day for Chris Gordon at Kempton today and Highway One O One is one of his best chances in my view. This horse likes it at Kempton and was a fine 3rd here on his last visit (24f sft). Jamie Moore went for home way too soon that day and if different tactics were used he may have beat Just A Sting (2lb better off now). That effort came off 143 and he is just 1lb higher here. Dropping back to 20f on soft didn’t suit at Cheltenham last time but this test should be more to his liking.
Leighton Aspell takes over in the plate and his quiet style should suit this horse. He has a good record when riding for Chris Gordon (11 wins, 28 Top 4s from 74 rides). The owner has an excellent record at this track too. From 18 runners he has had 6 winners and 9 Top 4s, so 83% of his Kempton runners have hit the frame. Clearly he targets races at this track and Highway One O One has form figures of 2133 at Kempton. 18/1 (5 Places) looks a big price about this son of Stowaway and he is the each way NAP of the day.
