The final Cheltenham Festival trials take place at Kempton races on Saturday, 22 February. These events are the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase, Adonis Juvenile Hurdle and Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle.
Although there’s an argument they provide a better indicator towards Aintree’s Grand National meeting than the big one at Cheltenham these days, the action at Sunbury-on-Thames holds Premier Raceday status in its own right. Supporting the Festival trials is the Ladbrokes Trophy, a Premier Handicap over fences that can influence the market on the world’s most famous steeplechase.
That is despite the fact that Kempton races go the other way round to Aintree. On a day where there are also cards from Chepstow, Fairyhouse and Newcastle, plus All-Weather action at Southwell, there’s definitely lots going on for punters and horse racing betting sites this particular Saturday.
Enter our experts who look through all the main business going on at the Greater London venue. Their race by race analysis of the jumps races from Sunbury-on-Thames is worth paying attention to. Why? Well, they found the King George VI Chase winner here on Boxing Day. See who has caught our experts’ eyes for this card beelow…
Kempton Races Preview for Saturday, 22 February
1:15 – 2m 5f Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
Today’s test over a shorter distance and sharper track may prove less demanding. Those with previous course and distance victories like Pyramid Place and Stoner’s Choice are old favourites but exposed now. At the other end of the handicap, meanwhile, improving five-year-old Gold For Alec is the opposite.
Tom Symonds’ bottom weight is completely unexposed and made a successful step up in trip to 2m 4f around Huntingdon the last day. Gold For Alec needed the 9lb hike from the assessor to get in here within the handicap. If not him, then another rare in-form horse in the field is the hat-trick seeking Saint Anapolino also upped in distance.
1:50 – 2m 4.5f Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase
Looking back at the feature race of the day! The Howden Noel Novices’ Steeple Chase was won in dramatic style by @quinn_caoilin on MARK OF GOLD, who took advantage of a mistake from PERSONAL AMBITION at the last!
An impressive save saw @BenJone04644251 stay up until the finish.… pic.twitter.com/BJpUbzuRHu
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) December 20, 2024
Mark Of Gold is thus an each-way alternative to another Sunbury-on-Thames specialist in ratings topper Rubaud. Paul Nicholls’ charge likes it here too and landing the Dovecote in 2023. Rubaud shaped like he might get this trip when runner-up in the Kingmaker at Warwick, but so did Mark Of Gold in the Noel.
The others don’t make much appeal. Imperial Saint has done all his winning around Aintree, while Ashdale Bob last ran 205 days ago. Boombawn is another past hurdling winner here, yet has a penalty for Wincanton. Bhaloo is the last of four in the field with a course victory under his belt, but must improve his jumping of fences.
2:25 – 2m Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle
Rated a lofty 111 on the level, the French Derby fifth and King Edward VII fourth should confirm form with re-opposing fifth St Pancras. That one has won since for Toby Lawes, but the filly Opec looks the only danger. If reproducing her autumn form where she hit a hat-trick, then she’s definitely in the mix here.
Nicholls’ French import Sauvignon has the unknown of sounder surface after pulling up on his UK debut. Ben Pauling runner Mambonumberfive also failed to complete in the same race last time, so it looks a two-horse race with the maiden Bursinel really up against it.
3:00 – 2m Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle
Celtic Dino bested next time out winner Wade Out at Ascot on his penultimate start, and the third home was facile Newbury Premier Handicap hurdle heroine Joyeuse. Prior to that, he beat three dual subsequent winners around Wincanton. Miami Magic just doesn’t have quite the same depth of form, so Celtic Dino may be difficult to catch from the front.
As for the others, Tripoli Flyer has a lot more on his plate than when recording consecutive victories at long odds-on. Topweight Roadlesstravelled must bounce back from pulling up in the Aintree Grade 1 that his re-opposing rivals placed in. Roysse switches from fairly galloping tracks to this different test on the upgrade.
Andashan is another wide-margin course and distance winner like Miami Magic, but what he beat doesn’t read anything like as well. Hat-trick seeking Starcrossed Lover has more on his plate here than when bolting up around Hereford. Alan King pitches course bumper scorer Blues Singer in very deep for his hurdling debut, meanwhile.
3:35 – 3m Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
A smart performance from Beachcomber who left his rivals chasing shadows in taking out the @Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Handicap Chase, ridden by @richiemclernon, trained by @oneill_racing 🏇 pic.twitter.com/ZEuvoLb1XC
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) December 27, 2024
Impressive course and distance victor BEACHCOMBER returns to Kempton races off a 9lb higher mark, but won with any amount in hand sporting first-time blinkers the last day. Jonjo O’Neill and sons may have found the key to him with that headgear. This track and trip seem ideal for Beachcomber, who remains unexposed as a chaser after just four starts over fences.
The market speaks favourably for Grade 1 Kauto Star second Hyland. This is a drop in Class for Henderson’s horse and he knows plenty about handicaps from his hurdling career. Showers must stay away from Greater London for Hyland to be at his best, however, and the depth of that Boxing Day race can certainly be questioned.
Golden Son is 9lb better off with Beachcomber and has 10 lengths to find on the bare form, meanwhile. That swing in weight does bring the Ditcheat inmate into calculations with stable jockey Harry Cobden riding him and not Tahmuras. Lowry’s Bar hasn’t been done any favour by the handicapper with topweight here, however.
Having won on testing ground over 3m 2f at Chepstow, there’s a question mark over whether bottom weight Katate Dori wants to go back in trip on a sounder surface. The remainder just don’t appeal right now, for all Charlie Uberalles saw his Doncaster form franked in fortuitous circumstances last month. Thomas claims off former race winner Our Power, but he hasn’t scored since 2023.
4:10 – 2m 4.5f Class 2 Handicap Chase (0-150)
Solo now steps back up in trip on a sounder surface and easier course than when behind Etalon at Sandown. Off 3lb better terms on a different track, he may be capable of turning the tables on the Skelton runner for Nicholls and Cobden. With Blow Your Wad needing to defy 317 days off the track, Tom Lacey’s charge might be best watched on reappearance.
Other previous Kempton winners Bourbali and Ideal Des Bordes both have claims. The former hails from the in-form Joe Tizzard yard and is only 2lb higher than when making all over 2m 2f here in October. Ideal Des Bordes drops back in trip after two starts as a chaser over further for Henderson, meanwhile. Of the rest, Keep Running looks to complete a hat-trick.
