TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

13:15 Kempton

Flegmatik was a winner here last time, and won quite well. He drops back in trip this time which is a little surprising, and has got back to a mark he’s been beaten off a few times. He is overlooked.

Patroclus was also a last time out winner at Leicester. He toughed it out well that day in a close finish. If the ground doesn’t get too soft he will be a contender and has age on his side.

There is a confident selection here and that is Deyrann De Carjac. This is by far his easiest task for a while after competing in two ultra-competitive handicaps at Cheltenham and running with credit particularly last time. Some of his back form stands out in the context of this race. He doesn’t have many miles on the clock for a nine year old, and if the ground stays good/soft that will be fine. The handicapper has given him a real chance and he is expected to take it.

DEYRANN DE CARJAC (WIN) written by Matt Polley

13:30 Lingfield

Despite the poor numerical turnout, this looks a fairly competitive heat and all six of the runners would want respecting one way or another. Reading through the form, Exalted Angel would appear the one to beat off these terms and Karl Burke's six-year-old served notice last time, when an eye catching yet never nearer sixth in a Listed race at this course. Proven in the grade and drawn in stall three, one senses this has always been the plan though wouldn't want them going a snail's pace.

Lord Riddiford showed a nice turn of foot when landing this race last season, tactically versatile, there is every chance his rider will attempt to take advantage of his ability to go forward here though his draw could make this tricky and he wouldn't want to set it up for one of the hold up types. Fairly consistent in general and clearly capable at this level, respect must be afforded though he is taken on for win purposes.

One Night Stand has been dismissed in the betting, strictly speaking one would struggle to imagine he is as good as a few of these but he appears the likely pace setter and he knows what it takes to win. Scott Dixon has his horses in fair form at present and whilst he isn't selected, there is every chance he will go well for a long way and he wouldn't want to be given too much rope.

Mondammej, Tone The Barone and Strong Power make up the rest of the field, all three would have claims if on song but a chance will be taken on Exalted Angel getting the pace he so requires and nailing them all late in the day.

EXALTED ANGEL (WIN) written by Chris Connolly

13:50 Kempton

Trainer Alan King has saddled three of the last five winners of this race however his runner this year is Big Boy Bobby who has had to settle for minor honours on both hurdles runs to date and would seemingly need to take a big step forwards given the opposition if he is to get competitive today.

Paul Nicholls saddles two newcomers to both the hurdling ranks and the stable, with Pleasant Man the mount of Harry Cobden and perhaps the most likely of the two to make an immediate impact in this sphere.

Impulsive One was last seen winning the Scottish Triumph Hurdle in impressive fashion at Musselburgh last month, however had previously finished behind Knight Salute when they met at Kempton in October and again in the Grade 2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster in December. The Milton Harris trained four-year-old also beat subsequent Grade 1 winner Porticello in that Doncaster race and arrives here defending an unbeaten four over hurdles – he should again prove tough to beat with both trip and conditions in his favour.

KNIGHT SALUTE (WIN)

written by Dean Kilbryde

14:05 Lingfield

This revolves around Lord North and whether or not he is ready to roll. Twice a winner at the very highest level, he has been off since bolting up at Meydan and anything like his best would be far too much for these.

Fancy Man represents Richard Hannon and he readily brushed aside the re-opposing King Of The South here earlier in the month, on that, there is no reason to expect a turnaround and despite looking to have plenty to find, one suspects he will be much fitter than a few of the others and he looks the most likely to take advantage of any flops or mishaps from the one's at the head of the market.

Alenquer was progressive last season and bagged two Group races, as well as a couple of places in Group 1 company. William Haggas has had a couple of winners lately and his charge would comfortably be the most likely to take advantage of any slips from the favourite, on that premise he is respected though whatever, he looks likely to find easier races later in the season and a victory at the highest level of turf is surely the objective.

Forest Of Dean must overcome a significant lay-off to go back-to-back in this, a useful sort in his own right, dismissing him out of hand appears harsh but he would have very little chance on all known form against at least two of these.

The rest are making up the numbers and require something of a miracle to win, even attempting to guess which order they might finish in is hard enough and so Lord North is taken to stamp his authority on the contest and hand Gosden a fourth successive victory in the race.

LORD NORTH (WIN)

written by Chris Connolly

14:25 Kempton

Fantastic Lady has won well over this distance the last two times she’s ran and is in receipt of quite a bit of weight off her rivals. She’s unexposed and has the potential to improve. She won’t have a problem with the ground and should take to Kempton well. However, this is a notable step up in class and even in receipt of such weight, she will have to put in a definitive career best to land this race.

Pic D’Orhy has taken well to chasing and is one of the leading contenders today. He was impressive when landing a Grade Two at Ascot and has won most of his races over the fences. Additionally, Paul Nicholls has an impeccable record in this race, winning it six times in the last ten years. However, he was well and truly beaten by L’Homme Presse in the Scilly Isles. Nevertheless, he should enjoy the return to a smoother course.

Minella Drama has also taken well to chasing and seems to be on an upwards curve. He was unlucky at Carlisle and travelled well in the Henry VIII at Sandown but lost a shoe and ultimately ended up well beaten by Edwardstone. He bounced back to form when landing a Grade Two at Haydock over two miles and four furlongs, which bodes well for today. He’s always had good form throughout his career, being beaten by Sir Gerhard and Erne River in his point-to-points and second in a Grade One at Aintree, over today’s distance, behind My Drogo. Despite a 5 lbs penalty, he could get one over Pic D’Orhy today.

MINELLA DRAMA (WIN)

written by Kieran McHugh

15:00 Kempton

Iceo comes into this race as the best on official ratings and is also in receipt of a decent weight for age allowance as well but he is coming off the back of a somewhat disappointing performance last time out behind Pied Piper. If a return to this course and distance makes the difference for him then he will have every chance of winning again today although there is a suspicion he might be better on softer ground.

The favourite is likely to be Gary Moore’s Shallwehaveonemore. He was very impressive last time out at Sandown and gave the impression that there would be more to come from him. He may well follow up that victory today but he will be very short odds to do so.

The value in the race comes from the battle hardened Moriko De Vassy. He’s won all his completed starts thus far and has showed great battling qualities in his races. His jumping isn’t the finished article yet and if he can get that right today he would rank as the top danger to Shallwehaveonemore. He showed no ill effects from a fall at Huntingdon when he won last time out and I would take him at double figure odds to lay it down and possibly turn over the short priced favourite.

MORIKO DE VASSY (WIN) written by Tom Bates

15.15 Newcastle

The highly anticipated Eider Chase a target for many a trainer in the region and the Dobbin’s Rath An Iuir owned by Rose’s mother and father will no doubt have been primed for today. He has been very lightly raced since his P-T-P days and his 100k purchase, but he has shown a fair level of consistency. He made his comeback last month having been off for thirteen months when he blew up, he was dropped 4lbs for that and should be in with a shout if he has come on for that run.

Just Your Type was only 10/1 for the Surrey National when unseating at the tenth fence, he is a strong stayer and would have more than likely ran a big race that day. But with unseating he did not have a hard a race as he may have had. He goes on all types of ground and is 3lb lower than his last winning mark and like Rath An Iuir should be competitive.

JUST YOUR TYPE (E/W)

RATH AN IUIR (E/W)

written by Michael Taylor

15:37 Kempton

£85,000 waits for the winner in the Coral trophy handicap chase. It looks on paper quite open due to a lot of these horses having question marks about them and I don't think you could be entirely confident over a horse in this race.

Annsam is the current market favourite after winning well at a class 1 listed event at Ascot just before Christmas he had Phoenix Way behind him that day who is in this race also. Have to be slightly concerned with the yards form which would put me off Evan Williams string haven't been brilliant in recent times. Also, In the last ten running's of this race the favourite has not won the race. which is a stat to slightly put you off.

The Big Breakaway is back over fences after his spin at Newbury where he finished 3rd which was his first run after a wind op. Youd like to think he would come on for that. Ran Shan Blue close on Boxing day at the Kauto Star Novice Chase in 2020 which is a rock-solid piece of form, If you're looking for course form. However, in my mind his jumping isn't up to scratch and has shown to many errors when jumping fences. I'm sure the Tizzard's will have schooled him a lot ready for this. But I can't be confident he will win.

Christian Williams has 3 runners in this race. Cap Du Nord gets in at bottom weight. With Jack Tudor taking a handy 3 pounds of as well he almost goes in as a featherweight. Cheekpieces are reapplied which could help. But overall, his form is very patchy over the last 12 months. Kittys Light is well handicapped at a big price and the faster the ground is the better potentially for this horse. Five Star Getaway has a liking to Kempton as a course and distance winner could go well.

My selection though is a big price in the name of Our Power. Upped in grade and trip here but is 2 in 4 over fences and to me its looks like one here who has more progression in him and they haven't reached Our Power full potential yet. Our Power is nicely weighted to run well here. Sam Thomas has a fairly small string but his yard is going well with 3 winners in his last 5 runners. Jockey Charlie Deutsch is operating at a 29% strike rate with 7 winners in the last 24 rides. So, the trainer and jockey are in red hot form which is a nice combination to have.

Most bookies paying 4 sometimes 5 places. But I've seen some 16/1 4 places at the time of writing. so is definitely worth some value each way if he handles the longer trip and certainly there is more improvement to come from him.

OUR POWER (E/W)

written by Luke Tucker