Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Kempton Park, Chepstow, Newcastle, and Chelmsford on 22 February 2025.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No5 STONER’S CHOICE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Fern O’Brien
STONER’S CHOICE is carded to go off at a double figure price in a good race for betting and is worth chancing. He’s been placed in two of his three outings this season including on his comeback at this course, while finding himself in a tougher race when underwhelming at Ascot last month. He’s capable of putting that reverse behind him and can bounce back.
Race 4 LADBROKES DOVECOTE NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
No2 CELTIC DINO
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
CELTIC DINO had missed work before losing his unbeaten record over jumps in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock, although very little of the action in the home straight could be seen owing to fog. That 12 lengths defeat by Potters Charm isn’t therefore as bad as it looks, and with his stable back amongst the winners he can by winning this earn a crack at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Race 5 No3 OUR POWER (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
This is a race to savour in which OUR POWER can repeat his 2023 triumph. Although injury subsequently kept him off the course for a year, the now ten-year-old has looked as good as ever in his two races this season at Cheltenham. He goes very well for new jockey Johnston, and the combination can play a big part in the outcome, with others to include for exotics purposes his stablemate KATATE DORI, LOWRY’S BAR, HYLAND and GOLDEN SON
Prediction: 1st OUR POWER, 2nd Hyland, 3rd Golden Son, 4th Lowry’s Bar
Race 6 No8 BAD
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
BAD appeared to be going well within himself when coming a cropper at the middle fence down the back at Ascot last month. It’s hard to know what would have happened but the grey remains well treated and can break his duck over fences in this valuable two and a half miler.
Race 7 No2 ONE KNIGHT
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Harry Cobden
The concluding bumper is a warm contest but I fancy ONE KNIGHT to get into the argument. He blew away his opponents on a first outing for Lavelle at Southwell, and even though the form has been let down by the runner-up Nazare there should be more to come from this gelded son of Sir Percy.
CHEPSTOW
Race 3 No4 LOSSIEMOUTH (Each Way)
Trainer: Polly Gundry – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
In this qualifier for the big three mile handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival the value play could be LOSSIEMOUTH. The ten-year-old has troubled the judge in warm races at Newbury and Exeter to show he’s retained a good chunk of his old ability. Three years on the sidelines usually signals curtains to the career of a jumper, but this fellow is turning back the clock and worth following, whatever happens today.
Race 6 No3 CEST DIFFERENT (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Adam Wedge
Having cruised home to score hard held on handicap bow at Carlisle, CEST DIFFERENCE is out quickly and can cash in to do us another good turn, albeit at cramped odds in a race he should totally dominate.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 No5 ANGLERS CRAGG (Each Way)
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey: Craig Nichol
The major betting heat of the day is the Eider Chase which can see ANGLERS CRAGG repeat his victory of 12 months ago. Unbeaten in four races over fences last season, he appears to have been given a campaign aimed specifically at a repeat in this historic contest with his trainer hell bent on getting him some respite from the assessor. And by troubling the judge on his latest of three starts this season at Musselburgh the ten-year-old signalled he’s definitely on the way back. In the 18-strong field my eye is also drawn to PASSING WELL, who arrives from Lambourn with bullish signals behind him. He has a happy knack of getting into the money, and can do so again. EGBERT also needs respecting, going to post off a light season with a clear cut Haydock success behind him. Top weight COLLECTORS ITEM isn’t out of it either but the main threat to the selection may stem from O’CONNELL, who has gone from strength to strength and tries to extend his winning sequence to four off what still looks a realistic mark.
Prediction: 1st ANGLERS CRAG, 2nd O’Connell, 3rd Egbert, 4th Passing Well, 5th Collectors Item
Race 3 No9 YOUNG GETAWAY (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Richards has his Greystoke team in good order and in YOUNG GETAWAY holds the key to this maiden hurdle. The Nap looked to fall short on stamina on his recent visit to this course and may well raise him game now pulled back to two miles.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 BET UK WINTER DERBY (Group 3)
No5 MILITARY ACADEMY (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
Southwell’s biggest race on the year can fall to MILITARY ACADEMY whose only blemish in four outings last season came when beaten by a super-charged Burdett Road in a Listed race at Newmarket. He bounced back from that to power home in a similar race back at HQ, and is reported to have thrived for his winter’s break.
Race 3 No8 CELLO (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Hayley Turner
CELLO has earned in each of his three starts in 2025 and been unlucky to run into some smart foes. He’s taking a step back on the distance ladder today, and can thwart the lightly raced and bang in form paper favourite Glen Buck.
Race 4 No6 GOLDEN STRIKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: O McSweeney
For connections who clicked with a similar type at Kempton last week, GOLDEN STRIKE is worth a second look. On just a third outing on sand he will come on a long way for his needed comeback run behind Badri at this course, and is capable of springing a surprise.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 6 No7 ELTERWATER (Nap)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
ELTERWATER looks one of the picks of his jockey’s good book of rides here and can take the spoils. The Camelot mare has few miles on her racing clock and deserves more than just her one career win at this course. She’s subsequently put in a couple of solid runs in defeat, and will appreciate a return to Polytrack.
Race 7 No8 DASH POWER
Trainer: Jessica Macey – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
DASH POWER has plenty to offer on debut for his new trainer after putting together a string of good efforts on the all-weather circuit that afforded him figures of 2212 on his last four outings. Loughnane was on board for the last two of those, and it’s to the advantage of the selection that he’s retained the mount.
