Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald's top Saturday plays

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23 February 2024

Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald's top Saturday plays

Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday Racing Tips

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

We have a mix of action on ITV with racing coming from Kempton and the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

The ground will play a huge part at Kempton and it could be a simple case of what copes with it best. The David Maxwell owned and ridden Joker De Mai may well be the one. He’s proven on heavy in France over fences and he will handle the conditions. When he was beaten at Exeter, the race may have come too soon after his win at Lingfield. Sea Invasion nearly got the nod in receipt of so much weight but it’s in David we trust!

Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden will be hoping Kalif Du Berlais can win and set them up for a crack at the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival. He was a very comfortable winner on debut in the UK at Kempton and he’s proven on the ground. That again could be the key. Don’t be surprised if you see a couple of famous golfers among the connections of Givemefive.

This could be a case of last horse standing. The going description says heavy and it will take some getting. Major Dundee is a tough horse to predict, however, Alan King has his team in good form. The last time Major Dundee really kicked into gear was at Uttoxeter over a marathon trip and I’m hoping that a return to those conditions will bring out a return to form.

Again, this race could be a case of survival of the fittest, and that could be two horses that ran in the Grade 1 for Novices at Aintree last year, namely Tahmuras and Pembroke. They finished fifth and seventh that day and with Dan Skelton‘s horses blossoming at the moment, I’m taking a punt on Pembroke.

Lump Sum wasn’t ideally positioned behind Jeriko Du Reponet at Doncaster in the Grade 2 run but he finished the race off really well. He has been a little keen in his races until then so if he relaxes, he will take a bit of stopping. If he was to win easily, Jeriko Du Reponet will shorten for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Festival next month.

Trainer Chris Gordon had a double with Rex Dingle at Kempton’s last meeting and it seems like the team’s horses are in really good form. Lord Baddesley’s run at Newbury last time behind Inch House was really good and he jumped nicely. He has good form at the track on a soft surface when finishing fourth in a strong novice handicap last season. However, the value each-way bet could be our old mate Sam Brown, who loves these conditions and wasn’t beaten all that far behind Shishkin at Newbury last time.