Saturday Selections - 22/02/25

Saturday Preview

Although at this time of year we all have at least one eye on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival we do still have some decent weekend racing to look forward to. With cards at Kempton, Newcastle and Chepstow in the UK as well some good racing over in Ireland.

In this blog I'll be sharing my selections for the weekend as well as my reasoning behind them and I hope we can pick out a few winners so let's get started!

13.50 - Kempton - Ladbrokes Pendil Novices' Chase

Rubaud - 6/4

I'm heading to Kempton for my first selection and I know its boring but I am siding with the favourite here in the shape of Rubaud. We only saw him a couple of weeks ago running in the Kingmaker at Warwick where he came a good 2nd to Arkle contender L'Eau du Sud and stayed on well towards the end and although that might've been exaggerated by the favourite idling out in front, I still think he was a respectable run against a solid grade 1 horse.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this race a record 13 times so he's no stranger to getting one ready for this and I expect this lad to be no different. He is stepping up in trip this weekend running over 2m4f but around a track like Kempton where speed is key I can see Rubaud making the running early on and putting the field under pressure from the get go, so I think his pace might just be too much for his rivals.

15.00 - Kempton - Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices' Hurdle


Celtic Dino - 9/2

Back to Kempton for my 2nd selection for the weekend and in a very competitive race I'm deciding to stick with Sam Thomas trained Celtic Dino. You could make a solid case for about 4 or 5 in here with the likes of Miami Magic and Tripoli Flyer amongst a few others who bring a solid bit of form into the race. Now I know Miami Magic did finish 9 lengths ahead of Celtic Dino in the Grade 1 Formby Novice Hurdle over Christmas but I cant believe that that was his true running so I'm happy to draw a ling through that, especially when the course that day was covered in fog so its hard to make a solid opinion on a race that was blinded for a good 90% of running. 

Other than the run over Christmas Celtic Dino's form over the course of this season has proved to work out quite well. It includes and Impressive win at Ascot back in November beating the likes of Wade Out and Joyeuse who have both won well since to frank that form so at odds of 9/2, I'm happy to take on the favourite here and willing to take a punt with this lad.

15.35 - Kempton - Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase

Hyland - 4/1

There seems to be a bit of a theme here but I am once again heading back to Kempton for my 3rd selection and I'm going with Hyland for Nicky Henderson. If you've followed my blogs this might come as a slight shock as you'd know how much I'm a fan of Lowry's bar after I tipped him up for the ultima a few weeks ago but I'm taking a chance on him not actually running here despite being declared.

Lowry's Bar trainer Phillip Hobbs came out today saying that they'd only run if the ground was soft enough and after pulling out of of the Reynoldstown at Ascot last weekend, I could see a world where they bypass this race and head straight to Cheltenham.

That being said if for whatever reason Lowry's bar doesn't turn up then that only enhances Hyland's chances and I could see him going off a much shorter price.

He has some decent form in the book too after an impressive win at the November meeting beating the likes of Springwell Bay and Resplendent Grey over 3 miles before finishing a very eye catching 2nd behind The Jukebox Man over course and distance over Christmas in the grade 1 Kauto Star Novice Chase.

I'm slights banking on Lowry's Bar not turning up but either way I think 4/1 is a fair fair price about Hyland here.

16.35 - Fairyhouse - Colreevy Mares Novice Chase


 Bioluminescence 1/1

I'm making the trip across the water for my 4th and final pick and I'm going with one that should take all the beating here. This mare has gone from strength to strength this season with a win at Limerick over Christmas as well as a great bit of form tying in with Dancing City, after finishing 2nd to him last time out as well as giving him 1lb in the weights.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell said they'll only be running in the Mares Chase if the ground is soft enough so I wouldn't want to be steaming into the 10/3 about her now for the festival however she is expected to get her desired ground here tomorrow so I cant see anything coming from behind the cause an upset. 

She will have to give weight away to the rest of the field tomorrow conceding 10lbs to the next in the market but I'd expect her class to prevail in this and in my opinion, she should be winning if she were to have success at the festival.

I wouldn't say she's bomb proof... but the more the rain comes, the higher her chances.


For more updates, news and opinions head over to my X (Twitter) account: https://x.com/OGedgeracing

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