Kempton, Chepstow & Newcastle selections Saturday 22nd February
Once again we have an embarrassment of riches to enjoy in our racing programme this afternoon. There are some top class races at Fairyhouse, Southwell stages one of the better All Weather cards of the year on the flat, but there are excellent races to get stuck into from a punting perspective at the three British meetings and I have selections from all three cards. Victtorino was a winner last week (advised 9/2) whilst Joyeux Machin was placed for the each-way bet (SP 6/1).
Kempton 1.15: Saint Anapolino & Gold for Alec
Two improving novices stand out in the opening contest at Kempton and I am banking on one of those duo scoring here.
SAINT ANAPOLINO has a marked tendency to jump right, so has to go this way around. He is still very green and wandered about a bit at Taunton last time. However it did not stop him from seeing off the challenge of Walk on High over 2m, despite the jockey dropping the reins on the run-in.
Whilst Taunton is quite a tight 2m, his previous form was largely on stiffer tracks and despite that habit of jumping right he won a maiden at Exeter with something to spare on his previous start. That suggests he should find some further improvement upped in distance today, at least on a sharper track that won’t test out his stamina so dramatically. With the Hobbs/White team continuing in such great form, I can see this gelding overcoming his inexperience once more.
Another novice with huge claims is GOLD FOR ALEC. He definitely improved for a step up to 2m4 when winning at Huntingdon last time. Whilst holding every chance two out, it did not look like he would go away to win by 6l, which is exactly what ended up happening.
He is up 9lbs for that win and in a better race, but he deserves to take his chance here with stamina now assured. That run was certainly no fluke as he had already won at the same track in the autumn and was a good staying on third over 2m at Chepstow on Welsh National day. He remains attractively weighted and the overnight rain won’t have done his cause any harm.
Newcastle 2.10: Passing Well & Your Own Story
Two horses yet to win a marathon contest, but who have shaped on a number of occasions that they are well capable in this sphere are fancied.
PASSING WELL ran an absolute cracker in the Surrey National at Lingfield, staying every yard of the 3m5f, but just having to give best to Sporting Ace. They are weighted to finish close again today with the selection 1lb better off for a head defeat. However Passing Well might be better suited by the slightly better ground today as he has classy back form.
He finished a solid fourth in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle of 2022 but has very much shaped like an out and out stayer since sent chasing. He was doing all his best work at the finish when second over 3m at Sandown in December, but found the sharp track at Wincanton against him when only third next time. I think cheekpieces helped sharpen him up at Lingfield, but it is the extreme distance which should bring out the very best in him.
YOUR OWN STORY is a horse I have followed on multiple occasions, most recently when sixth in the Welsh National. Possibly that grade of contest is just beyond his scope, though he did run on well past beaten horses late on. His second in the Borders National at Kelso prior to that did demonstrate his capability over 4m.
He was just touched off in the 3m7f handicap at the Punchestown Festival last season and some softening in the ground will definitely be a help to this thorough stayer. He remains attractively rated off 127, a pound lower than for Kelso and he is of great each-way interest given his proven stamina.
Chepstow 2.32: Lossiemouth
Before Willie Mullins’ talented mare came along there was another useful horse called LOSSIEMOUTH and the 10yo, now with Polly Gundry can resume winning ways today having missed almost three seasons through injury.
A progressive novice hurdler in 2021, he was a 14l winner of the Grade 2 Ballymore at Sandown before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury later that month. However that was the last we saw of him until November 2024.
Considering his lengthy absence, his comeback run was very promising in a competitive Newbury handicap, beaten only 5l by Hermino. He then qualified for the Pertemps final at Cheltenham by finishing fourth in an Exeter qualifier recently, keeping on nicely in a way that suggested he was just reaching peak fitness. Whether he takes up that Cheltenham option might depend on going as he needs deep ground, but he will get that at Chepstow today and remains off the same mark of 134 as those last two runs.
Kempton 3.35: Our Power & Beachcomber
Over half-an-inch of rain overnight changes the complexion of this race and I am looking for horses with stamina now.
OUR POWER won this race in 2023, effectively off the same mark taking into account Dylan Johnston’s 3lb claim today. I definitely favour him on a right-handed track as he does have an occasional tendency to jump out that way and he has faced some stiff tasks going left-handed since.
A non stayer in the 2023 National, he has run two fine races at Cheltenham over 3m2f sine missing most of last season through injury. He plugged on well up the hill behind King Turgeon in December, then avoided the bounce factor when second again to Chantry House three weeks later. I don’t think a real test beyond 3m is ideal though and back on a right-handed track and at 3m flat for the first time since winning this two years ago, he could surprise at the age of ten.
BEACHCOMBER definitely has to go right-handed and a combination of positive tactics and first time blinkers transformed him when winning over course and distance at the Christmas meeting. He faced plenty of competition for the lead that day, so kept up the gallop in very game style, eventually coming home 10l clear of Frero Banbou.
A 9lb rise was only to be expected, but a reproduction of that performance, should the blinkers work as well today must put him firmly in the mix. He is a talented horse on a right-handed track, and it looks like he is finally starting to fulfil that potential now.
Recommended bets
1pt win – Saint Anapolino – 1.15 Kempton – 4/1 general
1pt win – Gold for Alec – 1.15 Kempton – 11/2 William Hill
1pt each-way – Passing Well – 2.10 Newcastle – 12/1 Bet365, William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Your Own Story – 2.10 Newcastle – 14/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Lossiemouth – 2.32 Chepstow – 17/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Our Power – 3.35 Kempton – 9/1 Bet365, William Hill, Coral (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Beachcomber – 3.35 Kempton – 17/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 4)
