Megan Nicholls Racing Tips – Kempton, Newcastle & Southwell
BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls offers her insight into the world of horse racing as she brings her first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.
In this entry the former jockey, who rode more than 110 winners before turning her hand to television punditry, casts her eye over Saturday’s meetings at Kempton, Newcastle and Southwell.
Saturday Racing Tips
Kempton 1.50 – Adonis Juvenile Hurdle
It's a really hard race this one but it is great that it is so competitive and wide open.
I don't think Kalif Du Berlais (5/6 fav) deserves to be odds-on because this is red-hot. Kalif Du Berlais was very impressive over course and distance and he's a big, imposing horse with a bright future ahead of him. However, a 5lb penalty is difficult to give away on this ground to pretty talented horses.
Givemefive (10/3) is potentially one of those – he improved massively from his first and second start over hurdles and absolutely bolted up at Warwick under a penalty when not even coming out of a common canter. There may not have been much depth to the race but the fashion in which he did it was so impressive.
Elsewhere, Peking Opera (13/2) is a very talented flat horse. He won at Sandown smoothly in what was a nice hurdling debut performance from him and he could be anything here.
It is really tricky to work out, but at the prices, I'll go with Givemefive. I just think there is probably a little more value with him compared to the odds on Kalif Du Berlais. He doesn't have to carry a penalty, which is a bonus, and is the highest-rated on the Racing Post Ratings in this race.
He is the horse for now: smaller, sharper, and readier. Kalif Du Berlais, I have no doubt, will be a very talented horse for the future but it could be hard work giving away a 5lb penalty.
Megan’s Tip: Givemefive WIN
Newcastle 2.08 – Eider Handicap Chase
I am going with Gold Clermont (13/2) as she was right back to form at Fontwell last time.
She stays well and she loves the mud, so the fact it is going to be very testing at Newcastle is ideal for her. While she is off a career-high mark, she is a low weight sneaking into the race and I think there is room for a little more.
For an each-way shout, I will look at Tommie Beau (15/2). He's really consistent in these types of races. He will also be running off a career-high mark but he also loves the mud and his consistency is admirable. It would be silly not to look at him as an each-way chance.
Megan’s Tip: Gold Clermont WIN Tommie Beau EW
Kempton 3.00 – Dovecote Novices' Hurdle
I am going with Panjari (5/1). He has got a couple of pounds he will give away but it's not enough to make a difference and he's only 3lb below the highest rated.
Ignore his penultimate start at Musselburgh as he wasn't 100%. He came home and just wasn't himself. The team managed to work hard to get him back to form and, when he returned to Musselburgh a month later with first-time cheekpieces on, he absolutely bolted up.
He was super impressive; it was literally at a canter and he beat a couple of in-form horses that day. He's very effective on a flat track, the ground is no problem whatsoever and he's got that sharpness that you need at Kempton.
Now Fiercely Proud (7/4) and Lump Sum (10/3) finished third and second behind Jeriko Du Reponet at Doncaster last time but both of them looked as if the long straight at that course was helping them. It is more of a galloping track and I would be concerned for both of them that a sharp track like Kempton might catch them out.
Panjari is the one to beat and Secret Squirrel (11/2) is his biggest danger. A course and distance winner, he’s very consistent and was narrowly behind Fire Flyer at Taunton last time.
Megan’s Tip: Panjari WIN
Kempton 3.37 – Premier Handicap Chase
For this one I am going with Blackjack Magic (15/2)**. He has been a bit frustrating since winning the Badger Beer at Wincanton but he is pretty versatile ground-wise; he stays.
I think the addition of blinkers could be a big plus for this horse. He's not had the cheekpieces on or anything – they've reverted straight for blinkers which could have a really positive effect.
I think he could just bounce back to some better form. When he won at Wincanton it was good-to-soft but, if you look back at his form last spring, he won on heavy ground at Exeter and on soft ground at Uttoxeter so it's a positive that he can handle the ground. It's a question for some of the others.
Flegmatik (9/2) was a very good course and distance winner last time but I would have concerns for him in very testing conditions while Il Ridoto (9/1) is very good at Cheltenham over 2½ or the extended 2½ but has questions over stamina.
It's unknown territory up to three miles. If there is anywhere you would want to stay it would be Kempton – and he likes to bowl along, he's very consistent. He might be an each-way player if he does stay, with soft ground fine for him.
But, for me, Blackjack Magic can bounce back to winning form with the blinkers on for the first time.
Megan’s Tip: Blackjack Magic WIN Browse all our horse racing markets here odds correct at time of publication but subject to change