Weekend Winners - 21.02.2026

Saturday's National Hunt preview with Kempton tips, including the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase, Adonis Juvenile Hurdle, Pendil Novices’ Chase and Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle.

Kempton’s Saturday card is one of the standout fixtures of the late winter, featuring a trio of Grade 2 contests alongside the prestigious Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase, a race that often throws up Cheltenham Festival clues as well as showcasing some of the best staying handicappers in training. The Adonis Juvenile Hurdle regularly highlights Triumph Hurdle contenders, the Pendil Novices’ Chase has a rich history of top class winners for the Ditcheat yard, and the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle is traditionally a strong test for emerging two mile talents. With competitive fields across the afternoon and several runners arriving in peak form, it promises to be a high quality card at Kempton where course form and race fitness could prove decisive factors in identifying the winners.

1.45 Kempton – Ladbrokes Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

One Horse Town will be hoping to get back to winning ways under regular rider Paul O’Brien and sports cheekpieces for the first time. Back at Kempton Park for the first time since his win here in October, his level of form has significantly improved since then, and he beat the current favourite, PRECIOUS MAN, at Cheltenham in November. However, on that occasion, the former managed to dictate from the front and, after a poor jump at the last with five pounds that he had to give away too, Precious Man just couldn’t reel him in. With both off level weights on Saturday, it’s hard to envisage Precious Man not making the most of the weight difference on this occasion, and he gets a solid nod for the Skelton team. La Luna Artista is an interesting addition to the field and, being the only mare in the race, she gets weight all around and ran a very credible race last time out on Trials Day. She has a few lengths to make up on One Horse Town, but Kempton may suit her better and she can outrun her odds. Fantasy World is a surprise declaration following her poor performance at Musselburgh last weekend, where he was well beaten despite his odds suggesting he should win fairly comfortably.

2.25 Kempton – Ladbrokes Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Paul Nicholls holds the record for the most wins in this race with 14 victories stemming all the way back to Napolitain in 2006. He has also won four of the last five renewals, and after a comfortable success at Musselburgh in a race named after a fellow Ditcheat star, GO WEST represents Nicholls. The form of that race has already been franked, with Queens Gamble winning a listed race at Wincanton last weekend, and if Harry Cobden can get him into a good rhythm as Freddie Gingell did, he must have a fantastic chance. He disappointed here over course and distance on his penultimate start, so must put that behind him. Jax Junior will be a short price after winning a valuable handicap at Sandown last time, running for the first time since a wind operation. Unlike Go West, he has winning course form this year when beating Jeriko Du Reponet firmly in his place. He is six pounds superior to the second favourite Go West and Tom Cannon keeps the ride. Jasmine Bliss and Old Cowboy round off the field, and preference would have to be with the former, who won a listed chase at Huntingdon last time out.

3.00 Kempton – Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

Double Measure heads the field at the top of the market after getting off the mark at the third time of asking at Huntingdon last time out. Although the form is not too much to write home about, he couldn’t have been any more impressive and certainly deserves his chance in this. Klub De Reve is joint favourite at this early stage and must be taken with respect at the same time for Harry Derham. He too got off the mark at the third time of asking, yet this was in a valuable maiden, and he bolted up after attracting plenty of market support late on. A chance goes to MUSTANG DU BREUIL, who takes his chance in here despite having an entry for the Adonis earlier on the card, which could be a telling sign. Unbeaten in his career to date and scoring on his stable debut at Doncaster earlier this month, he could be dangerous with the weight received on Saturday, so gets the vote. His yard knows how to win this too, with Nicky Henderson being the winning-most trainer, his first win coming in 1988! There are plenty of others with chances, including Desertmore News, who destroyed the field at Southwell at the beginning of the month, and he could be interesting for each‑way players.

3.35 Kempton – Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

I really like DOYEN CHIEF in the Ladbrokes Trophy as he looks exactly the type and arrives here in peak form after a strong course and distance success last time, where he travelled powerfully, jumped with real fluency and always looked in control when it mattered. Proven form over this track and trip is a huge asset in a race where plenty either have stamina doubts or no Kempton experience, and being unbeaten in two starts over course and distance immediately puts him near the top of the shortlist. Last year’s winner Katate Dori has to be respected despite top weight. Henry’s Friend is consistent in these big handicaps and should give another solid account, while progressive types like Rising Dust add depth and could still be ahead of the handicapper. However, many of the remainder have questions to answer, whether it’s trip, jumping, or current form.