Kempton Tips: Saturday Best Bets including 16/1 Play in the Ladbrokes Trophy

The favourite Rubaud is very well treated on these terms and is sure to prove popular on the back of his second to L’eau Du Sud and given his trainer’s excellent record in this Grade 2 contest. At a much more backable price, though, ASHDALE BOB (best price 5/1) stands out and has the ability to win this race.

This Irish raider was the highest rated and best of these over hurdles and has plenty of top-class form in the book between distances of two and a half miles and three miles (placed in several Grade 1s over the latter trip). The 10-year-old has also won his last two starts in this sphere, including a Grade 3 event over an inadequate distance last time out.

This will be his first start this season, but he’s often gone well when fresh, and his assured jumping and proven form over further could see him get a few of these out of their comfort zone if let loose from the front. He’s a top-class horse, he will be suited to the course, and the journey over from Ireland can prove worthwhile.

Ashdale Bob, 0.5 pts E/W, 5/1

The Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle has the makings to be an excellent renewal with the vote going to TRIPOLI FLYER (best price 3/1), who can complete a third consecutive win in this sphere.

This six-year-old improved with each starts in bumpers and confirmed the promise of his hurdle debut second with two bloodless victories at Market Rasen and Musselburgh.

I loved the way he quickened away from his rivals last time out off a sedate pace and his jumping improved as the race went on. With plenty more to come, he gets my vote to book his ticket for the Supreme next month.

Tripoli Flyer, 1pt WIN, 3/1

Harry Cobden seemingly prefers Golden Son in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase for Paul Nicholls but I’m more interested in stablemate TAHMURAS (best price 16/1), who seems largely overpriced to me. 

This Grade 1-winning hurdler should have learnt plenty from his fourth-place finish in the Rowland Meyrick when stepped up to three miles for the first time and will be much happier going right-handed.

His record going this way round reads 1122 from four starts and he ran very well on this card twelve months ago when runner-up in the Grade 2 Pencil despite doing plenty wrong throughout.

He looks very well handicapped off a mark of 143 and is reunited with Johnny Burke, who got a fine tune out of him when the pair last teamed up to score at Aintree. He’s a huge price for a horse of his ability in spite of his quirks.

Tahmuras, 0.5 pts E/W, 16/1, 4 places

BAD (best price 9/2) in the process of running really well at Ascot last time out before he tumbled at the fifth last fence and has a very good chance to gain a first win for his in-form handler off an unchanged mark provided that fall hasn’t knocked his confidence.

It would be fair to say that the six-year-old hasn’t lived up to expectations for Ben Pauling as of yet, but he’s gone close on several occasions and it’s only a matter of time before everything clicks. Off a low-weight, and a lenient mark, this could be the day he delivers.

Bad, 0.5 pts E/W, 9/2