Ben Morgan’s Saturday tips – Kempton & Newcastle – Chance another Koktail at Kempton

Newcastle 2.43 – Eider set to make Val Dance

The 2024 Welsh National winner, VAL DANCER, is sliding down the handicap quietly and is lining up in Saturday’s Eider Chase at Newcastle only 3lb higher than when he took out Chepstow’s feature race of the season.

Mel Rowley’s admirable stayer has put in some big performances since which more than suggests he retains a good amount of ability.

He tends to run better in a higher grade, where he can run off a lower weight, which is similar to the conditions of this race, given Mr Vango is keeping the weights down here.

A slight concern is the ground not quite being soft enough as preferred, but at 12/1, I am willing to take a punt that he can overcome that.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Racing news you need, subscribe to the Racing Ahead website, digital edition, or magazine from as little as 8p a day.

Kempton 3.00 – Koktail to remedy Gordon’s blues

Chris Gordon may be feeling quite disappointed with KOKTAIL BLEU so far, as his form doesn’t accurately represent his ability.

I feel he is much better suited to quick ground and wouldn’t have been at home at Kelso last week on heavy ground.

His quick reappearance suggests Gordon thinks the same, but in one of the most open of renewals of this race, he is well worth his place here.

I think he is very unexposed over 2m on good ground, and a repeat of his performance over those conditions here, where he was only beaten 2 lengths by Baron Noir, will put him right in the mix.

At 16/1, he seems to be overlooked, but I am keen to play him each way in an open race.

Kempton 3.35 – Mullins attempts to land Another Kempton prize

The placement of the Emmet Mullins’ trained CHANCE ANOTHER ONE since his Kempton win in November is certainly questionable.

He showed that day that he has plenty of stamina, only powering away late in a slowly run race, but connections decided to run him over 2 miles the next time, where he was beaten out of sight, unsurprisingly.

Was that a deliberate tactic to protect his mark for Spring targets or was it meant to sharpen his mind up?

Either way, I think it is interesting he returns to Kempton for a shot at a big pot after he won so comfortably here before.

He is only up 7lbs for that win and I think that is lenient considering what improvement could be forthcoming now stepped back up in trip.

READ MORE: Paul Townend hoping Grangeclare West can provide Grand National clues in the Bobbyjo Chase