Saturday is a busy one for racing, with six meetings going to post. There are also nine races live on ITV across four different tracks.
Matty Sutcliffe is on hand to give you his best bets for Saturday. He has three top tips across the meetings at Kempton & Newcastle.
Kempton Racing Tips (Saturday 21 February)
Kempton’s is the feature meeting on Saturday. Matty has two selections on the card to make it a profitable weekend.
1:10 Kempton – Ladbrokes “New Horse Racing Bet Builder” Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-140) – Grenadier Jed 6/1 1pt WIN
Grenadier Jed was beaten a combined 144 lengths in Maiden Hurdle’s prior to stepping up in trip to 2m3f to record Handicap double this time last year at Taunton and while he’s 36lbs higher this time around, he still looks to have some scope in his mark of 118.
The Frontiersman gelding returned this season at Fontwell when coming from last on the turn to run down the prominent racers after the last and winning going away by three lengths. The second franked that form over fences when bolting up eighteen lengths next time out to be rated 140, and the seven-length third won cosily next time out to now be rated 12lbs higher.
Grenadier Jed fell at Plumpton when 9/4 favourite next time out, but he returned from a 57 day layoff to record another career best RPR when beaten a head by a resurgent veteran, again faring best of those to come from rear with the others to race off the pace beaten 26L, 42L and pulling up. He pulled twelve lengths clear of the 4/1 favourite there, and a subsequent 2lbs rise doesn’t look enough to halt his progress now going back right-handed.
3:00 Kempton – Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Klub De Reve 4/1 1pt WIN
I’m of the opinion that both Double Measure and Mustang Du Breuil will have other targets in mind here, the former being the EBF Novices’ Final at Sandown and the latter being the Fred Winter. Given the last ten winners of this race have come at an SP of 6/1 or shorter, and as the excellent Andrew Mount pointed out on the Weekend Watch Podcast when we were discussing the race earlier today that second favourites have an excellent record in this contest, it may pay to chance Klub De Reve.
The former point to point winner showed some smart form in bumpers particularly when third to Kadastral with Supreme contender Talk The Talk in second, and while winless in his first two attempts over hurdles they weren’t devoid of promise.
He eventually got off the mark over course and distance on Boxing Day when a well backed ten-length winner, travelling powerfully and drawing clear of the leaders two out. Visually, he won in the manner of a smart horse and this Supreme Novice entered son of Fly With Me can bolster his outside claims for that contest.
Newcastle Racing Tips (Saturday 21 February)
Newcastle’s card centres around the 2026 Eider Chase. That marathon handicap is the one in which Matty has a Saturday selection.
2:43 Newcastle – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Eider Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Livin On Luco 9/2 2pt WIN
Mr Vango’s participation puts three of these out of the weights included last years winner Knockanore who races from an 11lbs higher mark, but Livin On Luco sneaks in off his correct mark off bottom weight with Callum Pritchard taking an extra 3lbs off and this progressive staying chaser can be well suited to this stamina trip.
He showed promise as a Novice Chaser last season having won on chase debut under Callum Pritchard and bounced back to form at Ffos Las when a four length third to the progressive Top Of The Bill.
Livin On Luco returned this season to post a career best when winning the Southern National by a neck giving 16lbs to the runner up, who’s now rated 12lbs higher after landing a 16k prize at Windsor before a two length third in the Tommy Whittle last weekend.
He was then beaten nine lengths in the Coral Welsh Grand National into fourth behind the subsequent Denman Chase winner Haiti Couleurs, with the Tommy Whittle fourth Defending Silence in third.
He was still staying on there despite leniently been dropped a pound by the handicapper and this further step up in trip can suit for a yard making the long six hour voyage for the first time since teaming up on the license.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:10 Kempton – Ladbrokes “New Horse Racing Bet Builder” Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-140) – Grenadier Jed 6/1 1pt WIN
2:43 Newcastle – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Eider Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Livin On Luco 9/2 2pt WIN
3:00 Kempton – Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Klub De Reve 4/1 1pt WIN
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Kempton & Newcastle on Saturday 21 February.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Saturday horse racing tips were published at 4.15pm on Thursday 19 February.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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