King's Doyen Chief Primed for Kempton Trophy Repeat in Saturday's Feature

Kempton Park hosts a highly competitive racing card this Saturday, featuring three Grade Two contests alongside the prestigious Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at 3.35pm. Last year's champion, Katate Dori, returns to defend his title under trainer Sam Thomas, who has secured victory in this race twice in the past three years. While Katate Dori commands respect at 5/1, the spotlight shifts to THE DOYEN CHIEF, available at nearly double the odds, offering compelling value for punters.

Doyen Chief's Course Form and Handicap Appeal

Trainer Alan King has his stable in excellent form, and The Doyen Chief appears meticulously prepared for this valuable prize. The nine-year-old gelding demonstrated his affinity for the Kempton track by winning a handicap over the same course and distance in January. Although he only prevailed by a neck, his tenacious battle back to the lead after being headed approaching the final fence suggested untapped potential.

The handicapper has raised him just one pound to a mark of 139, which seems lenient given his performance. Your Darling, who finished second in that race, subsequently ran a strong race at Ascot last weekend, bolstering the form. While The Doyen Chief struggled with the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip at Cheltenham earlier, the three-mile distance on decent ground at Kempton suits him perfectly. Lightly raced for his age, he offers significant upside and is a solid each-way bet at 9/1.

Dovecote Novices' Hurdle: Matiwo's Front-Running Potential

The Grade Two Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at 3.00pm features several unexposed contenders, with MATIWO standing out as a horse of considerable promise. After only three starts, his seven-length victory at Newbury last time showcased impressive ability. Following a fall when leading at Cheltenham previously, jockey Ciaran Gethings adopted similar tactics at Newbury, seizing the early initiative and dominating the long home straight.

Kempton's configuration often favors front-runners, and if Matiwo can maintain fluent jumping and apply pressure, his rivals may struggle to close the gap. As a four-year-old, he receives a 12-pound weight allowance from older competitors, enhancing his appeal. At 16/1, he represents an enticing each-way opportunity.

Newcastle's Eider Handicap Chase: Stamina Test on Drying Ground

Attention turns to Newcastle for the Eider Handicap Chase at 2.43pm, a grueling test over four miles, one and a half furlongs that demands exceptional stamina. With the forecast indicating settled conditions and drying ground, the progressive Aworkinprogress, who thrives in soft terrain, may be overlooked in favor of other contenders.

DOM OF MARY emerges as a strong selection, having previously won at Newcastle on good-to-soft ground earlier this season. Trained by James Owen, this ten-year-old is competitively weighted, just four pounds above his winning mark, and performed respectably when finishing sixth in the Welsh National behind Haiti Couleurs. At 12/1, he is well-positioned for a prominent finish off a low weight.

Additionally, TANGANYIKA from the Venetia Williams yard presents an intriguing prospect at 16/1. The stable recently ended a quiet spell with two winners last weekend, signaling a return to form. Tanganyika runs off a mark of 135, only one pound higher than when narrowly defeated by Mr Vango in last year's Midlands National. After a promising seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham, his subsequent two pulled-up efforts can be forgiven due to the yard's earlier struggles, making him a value each-way selection.