Horse Racing Tips on Saturday, February 26
There are five meetings spread across Britain on Saturday, February 26th with the action coming from Chepstow, Kempton Lingfield, Newcastle and Wolverhampton. Our expert tipster has produced their best bets across the cards, which make up our advised Saturday Lucky 15.
Le Cameleon (1:15 Kempton)
It might pay to take a chance on LE CAMELEON in the opener at Kempton on Saturday after the seven-year-old returned to winning ways over fences at Fontwell last time out.
Nick Williams’ charge was winning for the second time over the larger obstacles on that occasion and readily took advantage of the slight drop in grade when running out a comfortable winner under top weight.
A 3lb rise shouldn’t be insurmountable on the evidence of that Fontwell success and although the rise back up in class demands more of him, he looks to be a shade too big in the current betting and it’s interesting to see connections have made a rare jockey booking in Harry Cobden to take the ride.
Rath An Iuir (3:15 Newcastle)
Conditions should be fairly quick underfoot compared to previous renditions of the Eider Chase and although that may not ideally suit RATH AN IUIR, there is a suspicion that he has been targeted at this Class 2 contest for quite some time by trainer Rose Dobbin.
The nine-year-old has been lightly raced in recent seasons and has only tackled the larger obstacles on three occasions. However, those three runs have produced two victories at Carlisle between 2m4f and 3miles.
The former winning point-to-pointer returned after a mammoth absence at Ayr in January and although his unbeaten record came to an abrupt end, Rose Dobbin’s charge looked in need of the return to action that day and he should strip fitter for that recent outing.
Connections have long been adamant that he is the type for staying contests such as this one and whilst he lacks the experience in these handicap events, the nine-year-old could potentially relish the extreme test of stamina and is well worth considering off a 4lb lower mark after his reappearance.
Phoenix Way (3:37 Kempton)
PHOENIX WAY will have to turn the tables on likely favourite Annsam after the pair clashed two starts ago, but Harry Fry’s charge has since gone on to land a decent handicap at Ascot in comfortable style and could finally be living up to expectations over fences.
The nine-year-old was aimed last season in top Grade 1 contests for connections, including when chasing home the likes of Hitman and Protektorat at Aintree last April. Although Phoenix Way was unable to land a blow in that particular contest, it was just his third start over the larger obstacles and costly errors put paid to his chances.
Phoenix Way returned this campaign with a below-par effort in a highly competitive handicap at Newbury which was eventually won by Fanion D’estruval. The nine-year-old shaped very much in need of the return to action that day and was never put into the race by jockey Aidan Coleman.
However, Harry Fry’s charge has seemingly got his act together in his latest outings, travelling much the best at Ascot before impressively returning to ways back over slightly shorter under a confident Kevin Brogan.
The step back up to 3miles shouldn’t be a problem for Phoenix Way on Saturday afternoon and looks to have finally turned a corner for connections.
Mister Whitaker (4:25 Newcastle)
Former Grade 2 winning chaser MISTER WHITAKER has been kept predominately to hurdles since joining Donald McCain’s Cheshire based yard. The ten-year-old was quick to make an immediate impression for new connections when finishing runner-up on stable debut at Carlisle before making the most of a suitable opportunity back in novice company to win at Kelso.
The five-time chase winner reappeared over the larger obstacles earlier this year after wind surgery and despite being sent off joint-favourite, Mister Whitaker ran below market expectations and weakened to finish third over 3miles.
The ten-year-old will have to step up on that latest effort this weekend but off a mark of 137, he looks very well treated in comparison to his previous form and Donald McCain will be confident Mister Whitaker can register another win over the larger obstacles.