ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 24th February from Kempton, Southwell and Newcastle

1:15 Kempton

The opener on ITV comes from Kempton and it’s a handicap hurdle over 2m5f.

The one I like is SEA INVASION (13/2) EW. He makes his handicap debut here off a mark of 113 and that could prove to be well within his reach. He ran at a respectable level in his four maiden hurdles and he was running at all the right tracks such as Cheltenham and Newbury. He always has experience here at Kempton. He steps up 5f in trip for this handicap debut and he looks entitled to improve for it. He was second in a point to point over 3m and looks bred to appreciate this sort of trip. 

 

1:50 Kempton

Next up we have the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle, a Grade 2 race over 2m.

I’d expect KALIF DU BERLAIS (10/11) to prove a tough nut to crack in this. A winner on his first start in France, he then came here and made a winning appearance for Paul Nicholls. He looks well suited by Kempton as proven on that last start and the fact Nicholls is aiming him at Aintree suggests these flat tracks suit him well. He’s highly thought of and I’d expect him to take a fair bit of stopping today.

 

2:08 Newcastle

We go up North for one race at Newcastle, the Eider Chase handicap over an extended 4m1f.

It’s ANGLERS CRAG (4/1) I like here. I’ve been really taken by him this season since switching to Brian Elisson but truth be told, it’s hard not to be. He’s won all three starts and his victory last time out at Musselburgh was in the manor of a horse on a serious upward curve. I have no concerns over the trip and a mark of 126 could still look lenient based on the improvement we’ve seen. Any rain will certainly not be a problem. 

 

2:27 Kempton

It’s more Grade 2 action at Kempton with the Pendil Novices Chase over an extended 2m4f.

It’s ARCLIGHT (5/1) that looks the value in this for me. She appears to have relished going chasing winning all three of her starts including here on Chase debut. She stepped up to this trip for the first time over fences last time out at Wincanton and won well showing 2m4f is certainly no issue. That was a career best and the second has won since. I think she’s a fair price in this open contest.

 

3:00 Kempton

The 3:00 from Kempton is the final Grade 2, the Dovecote Novices Hurdle over the 2m trip.

It’s LUMP SUM (15/8) NB for me here. A winner of his first two novice hurdle starts, he then ran Supreme fancy Jeriko Du Reponet close when last seen at Doncaster. He’ll appreciate this return to a softer surface and with the Sam Thomas stable in decent form, I’d expect him to return to winning ways here.

 

3:20 Southwell

We have one race on the AW from Southwell and it’s the Group 3 Winter Derby Stakes over 1m3f.

The Charlie Appleby team can’t do a lot wrong at present and I think MILITARY ORDER (9/4) NAP can land this for them. The stable are currently operating at a 50% strike rate and I’m sure this would have been a decent early season target for Military Order. He went off 9/2 for an Epsom Derby suggesting he’s held in high regard. That track did not suit and things haven’t quite gone to plan since.

However, he returns to action here at Southwell and was beaten in a second in a head bobbing finish. That was 3 weeks ago over this course and distance suggesting it was to tee him up nicely for this. He’ll improve for it I’m sure and from stall 1, he can gain a nice early position and go close. 

 

3:37 Kempton

The finale is the competitive Coral Trophy Handicap Chase over 3m.  

I think a 3lb rise for FLEGMATIK’s (6/1) victory last time out is more than fair and I’m sure connections having had this race in mind ever since. It was another victory over this course and distance last time out making it 3 wins from 6 course appearances. Obviously, this track suits him well and the Skelton team are getting one spot on for the big day. Their horses are in as good of form as they’ve been all season and FLEGMATIK looks sure to run his race here. He’s a sound jumper who’ll enjoy a decent pace to toe in him into it.

 

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