Saturday Channel 4 Racing Tips: Pearl Ice a real jewel at Kempton

Sad souls like me with nothing better to do got an unexpected treat when tuning into RUK on Wednesday evening, when second-season trainer Charlie Fellowes was a guest on the programme.

He made a very impressive start to his training career in 2014, and has carried on the good work with a couple of winners from a handful of runners this year, and he came across as a bright, young, clued-up trainer destined for greater success.

He pretty much went through most of his string in a Q & A session from what I could make out. Unfortunately for me, I must have been flicking over to Emmerdale when he discussed Pearl Ice, as that horse interests me in the 15:25 at Kempton.

I hope he was very positive about the horse anyway, as I am backing him at odds of 21.020/1 or better.

I know that his previous handler David Barron thought a lot of him, which is not surprising given that he won a Doncaster handicap off a mark off 90 in 2013.

He has done precious little since, though, including in three starts for Fellowes last season. And there are obvious concerns about the trip, as he has failed on all three of his starts over 7f, let alone this mile.

But I think first time up could be the time to catch him off a mark of just 88, and on a course which he has won on. And I quite like the fact that they step him up in trip too - his breeding gives you plenty of hope it will suit - and they will presumably adopt very patient tactics with him.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he has been off the course for the best part of the year with a physical problem - in fact, Twitter comments from the trainer suggest so - and if that is the case let us hope Fellowes has worked the oracle. At the price I am paying to find out, but it will be a minimum-stakes play.

At a much shorter price Ninjago is worth consideration in the 14:15.

He had proved one of the most frustrating horses to follow before he was tried in first-time blinkers over course and distance last time, when he got the better of the 104-rated American Hope by a head off levels.

If blinkers were the key - and to be fair he ran a string of good efforts in top handicaps without them - then I think he remains on a pretty attractive mark of 103, and can follow up in an admittedly competitive race.

Back him at odds of 8.07/1 or better.

Over at Haydock, Fourovakind looks very solid in the staying handicap chase at 14:00, but the price doesn't really entice me into having a bet.

In the 14:35, Upswing is another obvious one in a first-time visor for the JP-AP-Jonjo after a back-to-form effort at Carlisle but I am going to side with Raktiman here.

There is no great story to this one. He has been raised a very fair 6lb for a four-length defeat of a fairly-handicapped Kashmir Peak, has been given a break since and today's softer conditions shouldn't be any barrier to success.

He rates a fair bet at odds of 14.013/1.

I toyed with Astigos in the 15:10 but Cloudy Bob is my last bet of the day at odds of 17.016/1 in the 15:45 at Haydock.

He hasn't got his head in front since scoring over this trip in soft ground at Market Rasen in November but he has slipped down the weights to a mark only 2lb higher now.

I thought he ran pretty well over an inadequate trip on good ground at Kempton last time, and these conditions will suit him better, and his claimer boasts a 31% strike-rate over fences this season.

Recommended Bets

Back Pearl Ice at odds of 21.020/1 in the 15:25 at Kempton

Back Ninjago at odds of 8.07/1 in the 14:15 at Kempton

Back Raktiman at odds of 17.016/1 in 14:35 at Haydock

Back Cloudy Bob at odds of 17.016/1 in the 15:45 at Haydock