Guide to Saturday’s Racing – Key Betting Angles

The last few prep races for the Cheltenham Festival are taking place at Kempton his weekend. Three Grade 2’s on the card for Novice Chasers, Juveniles and Novice Hurdlers. The key contests are the last stages for potential Cheltenham candidates to strut their stuff.

A valuable staying Handicap Chase also features as part of our Kempton tips for what is the feature meeting of the afternoon. Elsewhere, racing comes from Lingfield, Newcastle, Fairyhouse, Chepstow and Wolverhampton.

ITV Racing

Today’s ITV Racing tips on ITV4 covers seven races; four mentioned above from Kempton, two from Lingfield which includes the Winter Derby where the supremely talented Wissahickon is the red-hot favourite, plus the Eider Chase from Newcastle.

The most fascinating runner is probably Angels Breath in the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle. He has been very much a talking horse so far this season having won a Grade 2 on his debut for Nicky Henderson and has been prominent in the betting for the Supreme Novices Hurdle ever since.

But having only jumped four hurdles in his career so far, it’ll be interesting to see if he can live up to the hype.

NAP of the Day

The best bet of the days runs in the 2.35pm Lingfield. Fearsome is a very progressive five-year-old who has won his last four on the spin including three over today’s course and distance. Leading all-weather jockey Adam Kirby has been in the saddle on three of the last four occasions and gets the leg up again today.

Outsider to watch

Awayinthewest is a fascinating runner in the 2.50pm Fairyhouse this afternoon. She’s been contesting better company in recent starts, having finished second and third in Listed events before running too bad to be true in a Grade 3 last time.

Taking a drop into handicap company today could see her to much better effect. The last time she contested a handicap over hurdles was in May of last year where she was a ready winner. She is eleven pounds higher here, but her forays in good company recently show she has improved and can outrun her odds.

Longest Traveller

David Pipe makes the long 341-mile trip to Newcastle with Daklondike for the Eider Chase at 2.40pm. He’s firmly on the upgrade having won all three of his last completed starts and is Tom Scudamore’s only ride of the day.

Trainer-Jockey combo

Warren Greatrex – Richard  Johnson

The pair have five winners from just ten runners when combining at Chepstow, with just two finishing out of the places in the last five years.

They team up with Jammin Masters in the 3.05pm who has finished runner-up in his last three chases, jumping well in the main. This increased test of stamina will be right up his street.

Nicky Richards – Brian Hughes

Over the past twelve months, they have had just six runners at Newcastle, but three of them have won. They combine with Progress Drive in the 2.40pm. He was third off this mark last time out when trying this trip for the first time and has had wind surgery since.