Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 20/1 Kempton fancy

• Katie Midwinter has selections across the cards

• Promising performer is one to note in Warwick opener

• Talented mare may be underestimated in Grade Two contest

• Tullyhill makes each-way appeal at double-figure odds

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Warwick, 12:45 - Back Kilwaughter @ 11/26.50

Kilwaughter showed promise on debut for former trainer Stuart Crawford when beating talented prospects such as Theflyingking, a subsequent Grade Three second, Strong Link, now a three-time winner, and Takenasred in a Down Royal bumper.

He then changed hands for £120,000, going into training with Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, lining up in the competitive finale bumper on Grand National Day in his first start for the yard. 

The gelding could only manage eighth when struggling to get the run of the race, before finishing third to Baron Noir at Punchestown, with El Cairos in second and subsequent Grade Two winner Koktail Brut behind in fifth.

Despite being unable to make a significant impression in two hurdling outings to date, including in deep waters on his debut over obstacles in the Persian War Novices' Hurdle, Kilwaughter can fare better and could make it third time lucky in this sphere. He has shown he possesses talent and has the scope for further improvement.

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Fairyhouse, 13:05 - Back Minella Sixo E/W @ 10/111.00

Top weight Minella Sixo could have the class to win this three-mile contest under 7lb claimer Paddy Cleary if ready after a 162-day absence.

The seven-year-old gelding is capable of showing further improvement in only his eighth start over hurdles, returning from an unsuccessful chasing debut at Galway, and has shown he is able to compete against tough opposition already.

Last term, the point winner made a comfortable start on Rules debut, landing his maiden by eight-lengths, before chasing home now 149-rated Potters Charm at Cheltenham.

The son of Shantou finished second to Pray Tell in a Cork Grade Three, before being beaten only by exciting prospect The Big Westerner, a recent Grade Two winner over fences who has placed in a Cheltenham Festival Grade One, and Mozzies Sister in a Limerick Grade Two, when finishing five-and-a-half-lengths ahead of fourth-placed Fleur In The Park.

Although things haven't quite worked out since that effort last winter for Minella Sixo, he remains a horse worthy of note who warrants consideration. He has proven he has class and is unexposed in handicaps coming into this race.

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Warwick, 13:15 - Back Jack Black @ 15/28.50

Jack Black represents local trainer Dan Skelton, who has a good record at the track, as he makes only his second chasing start on the back of a distant fourth-placed effort at Bangor-on-Dee.

Entitled to improve for that effort, which was his second start of the term having reappeared at Ffos Las in a maiden hurdle following a 354-day absence the month prior, there could be more to come from the seven-year-old.

Earlier in his career, Jack Black shaped with promise, showing talent in bumpers behind the likes of now 140-rated Quebecois, and at this venue when behind now 136-rated Bill Joyce, when ahead of Hartington, who has franked the form. 

The son of Tirwanako, who was purchased for €70,000 as a three-year-old, also made an impression on hurdling debut at Newbury, finishing third in a race previously won by the likes of Chantry House and Gowel Road behind only Making Headway and East India Express, when ahead of the likes of David's Well and Hasthing.

Having shown enough ability to suggest he could be well treated from a mark of 107 if taking to fences and improving on his latest efforts, Jack Black may be worth keeping onside as he remains lightly raced and unexposed currently, has run well at the track previously, and represents a top local yard.

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Fairyhouse, 13:40 - Back Tullyhill E/W @ 11/112.00

At a price of 11/112.00, Tullyhill warrants consideration for Willie Mullins under Danny Mullins, despite needing to bounce back from a pulled up outing at Navan.

The grey hasn't fired since a Listed win as a novice hurdler at Punchestown almost two years ago, struggling for consistency subsequently. He was sent off as the 11/43.75 favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, but couldn't make an impression under Paul Townend before being pulled up at the Punchestown Festival in his final start over hurdles to date.

Yet to get off the mark over fences in six runs, Tullyhill has shaped with some potential as a chaser on occasion, second to Majborough on chasing debut before matching that finishing position when chasing home Mistergif, and second to subsequent Grade Two runner-up Fleur In The Park at Wexford, when finishing ahead of Flicker Of Hope.

The eight-year-old was pulled up when upped in trip to an extended 2m4f at Navan when last seen, with his rider reporting he became tired late on, and he returns to a more familiar distance of 2m1f here.

Whilst improvement is required from Tullyhill, it could prove worth keeping the faith in a horse who has shown to possess plenty of ability and shaped with such promise earlier in his career.

A mark of 143 could prove lenient for the point winner if he does enjoy a favourable trip and is on a going day, and he makes each-way appeal at the prices for team Closutton.

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Warwick, 13:52 - Back Hollygrove Cha Cha @ 12/113.00

Outsider of the field Hollygrove Cha Cha has plenty to find on ratings with the main protagonists, but her current mark of 129 may be underestimating her level of ability and she's in receipt of weight from her rivals as she makes only her third chasing start.

On chasing debut at Carlisle, the Jamie Snowden-trained contender finished an excellent third to Resplendent Grey and Handstands, travelling best of all approaching the final fence when jumping slightly to her left and losing some momentum, before rallying to beat The Kalooki Kid, staying on strongly.

Her finishing effort suggested a step up in trip could suit, and she remains open to plenty of further improvement on the back of a comfortable win over likeable mare Bluey at Exeter over an extended 2m1f.

The winner from her reappearance at Carlisle, Resplendent Grey, is set to line up in the Classic Chase on the card from a current rating of 152, whilst the runner-up, Handstands, was rated 157 on that occasion and put in a bold bid for a long way before fading late on in the prestigious Betfair Chase.

The form is strong and if Hollygrove Cha Cha can put in a similar performance, or improve further for her return to action over this extra distance, she may be underestimated at odds of 12/113.00, holding strong claims under Gavin Sheehan.

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Lingfield, 15:00 - Back Twilight Jet @ 9/110.00

Seven-year-old gelding Twilight Jet may be worth keeping onside as he seeks a fifth career win in the hands of Sean Levey, a first success on the all-weather at the fifth attempt.

The son of Twilight Son didn't run to the best of his ability over this course-and-distance when last seen on New Year's Eve, but he's capable of better and has been dropped another 2lb to a mark of 84. He's now 9lb lower than when narrowly beaten at the Derby Festival last summer, when sent off at odds of 33/134.00, beaten on three-quarters-of-a-length by Sondad.

Since then, Twilight Jet has shaped with promise on occasion including on the all-weather at Kempton, when third to Buccabay at 28/129.00 under his returning rider, and when fifth in a higher class handicap at Ascot.

For former trainer Michael O'Callaghan, Twilight Jet won three Stakes races, including two Group Three contests earlier in his career, as well as finishing a length-and-a-half fifth to Commonwealth Cup winner Perfect Power in the Group One Middle Park Stakes.

As recent as 2024, Twilight Jet featured in races won by the likes of Believing and She's Quality, and was only narrowly denied by Aesop's Fables at Listed level.

From a workable mark for Jim and Suzi Best, Twilight Jet has shown he still retains ability and can return to the winners' enclosure with a favourable outing. It's too early to give up on the gelding and he makes the most appeal.

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Kempton, 15:17 - Back Wreckless Eric E/W @ 20/121.00

Six-year-old gelding Wreckless Eric remains open to further progression and could take a step forward from his latest run at Ascot. He hasn't been seen to best effect in either of his latest two runs, including at Aintree behind stablemate Wellington Arch, but had previously finished half-a-length second to Go Dante, who has franked the form, in the Betfair Imperial Cup at Sandown, when rated 127. 

From a 1lb higher mark here, the Jonjo and AJ O'Neill-trained gelding holds leading claims if able to replicate that level of performance, and shouldn't be discounted at double-figure odds. Seeking a fourth win, Wreckless Eric warrants each-way consideration under Kielan Woods. He has shaped with potential on occasion, and has proven form in a hugely competitive and valuable handicap.

There's plenty to like about Wreckless Eric's chances if able to return to his best, and, at a price of 20/121.00, he could represent some value.

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Kempton, 15:17 - Back Just A Rose E/W @ 18/119.00

Completely unexposed in only her fourth career start, Paul Nicholls-trained Just A Rose is an intriguing contender in this competitive field under Freddie Gingell.

She carries a low weight from a mark of 121 in her second run following wind surgery, and could show significant improvement on a fifth-placed effort at Taunton on her return to action last month.

Her reappearance effort was her first run for 273 days, since pulled up in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. She was in deep waters on that occasion in only her second start under Rules, and it may be a run worth forgiving considering she had previosuly landed her maiden by 26-lengths. 

Just A Rose beat Country Mile and That'll Do Moss, both now rated 137 respectively, in a point before changing hands for £175,000 and embarking on a career at Ditcheat. She's a classy type, related to a number of winners, and the daughter of Saint Des Saints could have bundles of improvement in her. 

Whilst this contest may prove too hot for such an inexperienced mare, Just A Rose is impossible to rule out and could be well treated from a mark of 121.

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Warwick, 15:32 - Back Spike Jones E/W @ 14/115.00

Samuel Drinkwater-trained Spike Jones began the season in great form with a gutsy second to the progressive Ikarak, now rated 10lb higher, at Lingfield, before finishing an excellent third, when beaten only half-a-length, at Cheltenham. 

He was unfortunate to fall in the early stages of his subsequent outing at Prestbury Park on New Year's Day, and remains one to keep onside from a rating of 118 with 7lb claimer Benjamin Macey in the saddle.

Despite being a nine-year-old, it's plausible Spike Jones is still improving. Based on his latest efforts, he's on an upward trajectory and, from only 4lb higher than his previous success, he can make his presence felt in this competitive handicap.

A likeable contender, Spike Jones is one to note at odds of 14/115.00, making each-way appeal as he bids to resume his good run of form.

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Newcastle, 19:20 - Back Bella Love E/W @ 12/113.00

Despite being a 17-race maiden, Bella Love isn't a forlorn hope in this 6f sprint. She has shaped with some potential on occasion and has finished second in four races, as well as placing third on the all-weather over 5f at this venue.

For former trainer Craig Lidster, the daughter of Kodiac began her career well, only narrowly denied by Alpha Magic in a Thirsk novice contest before chasing home Mademoiselle in a maiden. She has struggled for consistency since joining Ivan Furtado, but has shown glimpses of ability, including when narrowly denied a maiden success by Believe In Lies at Carlisle.

From a low rating of 52 with Jordan Nason claiming 3lb, this could be the time for Bella Love to finally strike in her second run following a wind operation.

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