Kempton, Newcastle, Chepstow & Southwell Tips for 24th February 2024

Results for Kempton, Newcastle, Chepstow & Southwell Tips for 24th February 2024

We have a varied offering on the Scoop6 menu this coming Saturday, with all four Saturday afternoon UK meetings contributing at least one race to the bet. The pick of the action comes from Newcastle with the annual edition of the slog through the mud that is the Eider Handicap Chase, with the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase from Kempton being next best on the list. Elsewhere, Chepstow chips in with the latest in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle series, before the action switches to the Tapeta at Southwell four legs five and six.

No winners last weekend means we are rolling over once again, as the hunt for the big money continues. As ever, we will throw our hat into the ring, and here we present our best bets in each of the six legs in this week’s Scoop6 Racing Tips.

1:15 Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle

Class 3, 2m5f

Kempton
Mark Of Gold
16/1

Kempton kicks off the action with this wide-open handicap for the staying hurdlers. The Paul Nicholls-trained Largy Poet (6/1) heads the betting, having hosed up in a Class 4 maiden event at this Exeter last time out. The step up in class doesn’t look too much of a concern on the back of that, but the fact he is zero from three on soft ground is just enough to make us look elsewhere.

Similar comments apply to Harry Fry’s Joker De Mai (13/2), who also needs to prove he stays this far. Moving down the list, the prominent position of Sea Invasion (13/2) in the market is largely down to the electric form of his trainer, Chris Gordon, and the potential improvement for this step up in trip. He looks dangerous, but again has shown his best form on quicker ground than he is likely to encounter here.

As a former Triumph Hurdle winner, Pentland Hills (8/1) merits plenty of respect but is another who may not appreciate the ground. Lord Of Cheshire (10/1) and Get A Tonic (12/1) are interesting at bigger prices, but the vote goes to 2023 winner of the race, Mark Of Gold (16/1).

He needs to bounce back from an early fall in the Lanzarote Hurdle at this track, but such was the case last year, and that didn’t prevent him sauntering to a 14-length success. He’s 6lb higher this time but goes for a yard in form and handles soft ground well so on balance is the pick here.

2:08 Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase

Class 2, 4m1½f

Newcastle
The Galloping Bear
9/1

Next up, one of the feature events of the season from Newcastle, as 13 brave contenders attempt to complete 4m1½f in near bottomless ground. Always one of the most gruelling contests of the season, what is needed here is stamina and lots of it.

Brian Ellison’s Anglers Crag (4/1) has proven all the rage in the betting, having found a new lease of life since switching to this yard in November. A perfect three from three for his new handler, he arrives on the crest of a wave but is zero from four on heavy and yet to race beyond 3m2f, meaning we will opt to pass him over here.

Fenland Tiger (6/1) is next in the betting and handles heavy well enough but is yet to tackle a trip in excess of 3m. Flower Of Scotland (13/2) comes right into it on the form of her Borders National success at Kelso and looks fairly handicapped off 120, but narrow preference is for the Ben Clarke-trained The Galloping Bear.

Second to a very well-handicapped Kitty’s Light last year, he gets in off the same mark of 140, but will have the assistance of 5lb claimer Joe Anderson in the saddle this time. His record on heavy reads two wins from four starts. However, it should be noted that the defeats include a disqualification, having beaten Haydock specialist Bristol De Mai in a heavy ground edition of the Haydock Grand National Trial.

3:08 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Class 2, 2m7½f

Chepstow
Glimpse Of Gala
8/1

Moving down to Wales for Leg 3, the ground doesn’t look to be much better at Chepstow – once again bringing stamina firmly into play. Last year’s winner Thanksforthehelp (13/2) returns to defend his crown for David Pipe but is 10lbs higher this time and needs to take a huge step forward from his pulled-up effort on seasonal return. Supremely West (15/2) is more appealing, having finished in the first two in all five hurdles outings and hinting that this additional distance may be in his favour.

Walking On Air (11/4) is hard to fault at the head of the market, with his fifth in last season’s Pertemps Network Final and recent second to Henry’s Friend reading well. However, a burden of 12st on his first experience with a heavy surface will demand a mighty performance.

In our opinion, therefore, the one to be on is Glimpse Of Gala (8/1) from the yard of Charlie Longsgdon. This one’s race fell apart following an error three from home last time out at Kempton, but she previously finished a solid second over a trip too short at Warwick and mastered the talented Ashtown Lad on her only previous effort on heavy. Only 1lb higher than for that success here, she is fancied to go close.

3:37 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase

Premier Handicap, 3m

Kempton
Killer Kane
9/1

We return to Kempton for the last jumping event in this week’s bet, with the in-form Flegmatik (6/1) currently heading the market. Only 3lbs higher than when scoring over course and distance in January, he looks fairly handicapped, but with all five career victories coming on good to soft or quicker, he may find the ground against him. Badger Beer Handicap Chase winner Blackjack Magic (13/2) ought to be fine on the going but hasn’t been so good in two subsequent outings, suggesting the handicapper may have his measure for now.

The ultra-consistent Il Ridoto (9/1) should find this easier than the red-hot Cheltenham handicap battles he regularly contests but is going into unknown territory regarding the trip, and Bowtogreatness looks on a nice mark. However, the vote goes to Joe Tizzard’s Killer Kane. A winner over course and distance, he gets in off the same mark as when second in a soft-ground event over this track and trip last time out and may find further improvement on only his second start since a wind op.

4:30 BetUK. Home Of The Acca-Fenwa Handicap

Class 3, 1m4f

Southwell
Cello
15/2

That’s it for the turf action, as the Tapeta at Southwell provides the stage for the final two legs. First up, this competitive handicap over 1m4f. Artisan Dancer (4/1) is one of four last-time-out winners in the field and should go well for Charlie Johnston, having been bumped up 4lb for that success at Wolverhampton. Course and distance winner Valsad is another for the shortlist (5/1), having only gone down by a short head on his most recent outing at Newcastle, whilst Caldwell (16/1) looks a viable each-way option having scored over this track and trip in a decent time earlier in the month.

There are plenty in with chances, but if there is a horse who may be ahead of their handicap mark, we suspect it could be the Andrew Balding-trained Cello (15/2). Making his handicap debut here, this one was last sighted cruising home in a novice event at Kempton in January 2023. That long absence is a slight concern, but the Balding yard is going great guns. If any of that form rubs off on Cello, he may be up to landing this off an opening mark of 85.

5:05 BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap

Class 3, 2m½f

Southwell
Palace Boy
11/4

The stayers take to the track in the finale, in what looks like another typically tight handicap for the venue. Alan King’s Spartan Army (6/1) looks interesting on his second all-weather start, having toughed it out well to score over this trip at Lingfield last time out. Only 2lbs higher here, he should be in the mix. Haveyoumissedme (5/1) has finished second and first in two previous all-weather outings at around this trip and is slipping to a nice mark, whilst, as one of only three distance winners in the field, First Emperor (20/1) is an appealing each way option.

Overall, we suspect the market has this right in rating the Ralph Smith-trained Palace Boy (11/4) as the one they all have to beat. Unlike many of his rivals, this son of Nathaniel arrives firmly on an upward trajectory, following back-to-back successes over 1m6f at Wolverhampton, having seemingly found a new lease of life since his switch from the Fergal O’Brien operation. Never stronger than at the line in each of those wins, he’s 6lb higher here, but the step up in trip may see him in an even better light.