Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle – 3.00 Kempton Park – Saturday 22nd February

This weekend is always highlighted each season by an informative meeting at Kempton Park, with the trio of Grade 3’s for novices or juveniles supported by the valuable Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase, which all usually inform and entertain in equal measure.

The big handicap chase looks a tricky betting puzzle at this stage, and so for an opening 1-star * ante-post bet for WhichBookie this week it is the Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at 3.00 at Kempton Park that provides some early value.

Miami Magic is understandably the horse that the layers have chosen as their early favourite, on the back of his Grade 1 runner-up performance behind the smart Potters Charm in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.

However, the 2m1f on soft ground around a left-handed track really played to the attributes possessed by Miami Magic and most notably his stamina and ability to handle soft ground.

9 lengths back in 4^th that day was Celtic Dino, and for all that many would feel that is too significant an amount of ground to turn around, especially given Celtic Dino will have to carry 3lbs more on Saturday due to this Ascot Class 2 win the run prior.

However, the Dovecote is over a furlong shorter on what will most likely be ‘good’ ground on a speed favouring right-handed track. All these factors are right up the street of Celtic Dino, as he has proved twice with resounding wins at Wincanton and Ascot.

Celtic Dino’s Ascot win was given a nice boost with the runner-up winning since and the 3^rd bolting up in the valuable William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Newbury two weeks ago and so backing him at 7/1 each-way with William Hill for 3 places has to be the bet.

Sam Thomas won the race last season with a very similar type in Lump Sum, and I like the fact that Celtic Dino has been given a break since Aintree. He will be fit, fresh and ready to bounce off the decent ground and will take some pegging back on Saturday for sure.