Paddock Picks – Our big tips for this weekend’s racing

We've a big weekend ahead.

A new season of The Paddock is now under way, with host Oli Bell joined by fellow racing broadcasters Rishi Persad, Nick Luck, Tom Stanley, and special guests for weekly episodes packed with tips, talking points and plenty of debate.

Below are the panel’s headline selections for Saturday 21 February.

The Two Paddock Picks for Saturday 21 February

14:25 Kempton – Ladbrokes Pendil Novices’ Chase

Pick: Jax Junior (Oli Bell)
Oli is heading to Kempton for the Grade 2 Pendil, where Jax Junior is his standout selection in the novices’ chase.

“I’m going to play a very straight bat this week. Short-price horse in the Pendil, Jax Junior. On the figures, he’s the one they’ve all got to beat. Backed up by the price of it. Admittedly, but I thought it was a very impressive winner last time out. Lucy Williams has trained this horse incredibly well. Going to take a lot of beating. So Jax Junior, favourite in the Pendil at this stage — that’s my Paddock Pick this week. I think he will be very hard to beat.”

15:35 Kempton – Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase

Pick: Soul Icon (Nick Luck)
Nick’s best bet comes in Kempton’s Ladbrokes Trophy, where he’s sided with Soul Icon in a competitive Premier Handicap.

“I’m not going for a straight bat. I’m going to take a big swing with a horse called Soul Icon, who is currently about 20, 25 to 1 in the big chase at Kempton, which I think is at 3:35 on ITV on Saturday. He’s a horse who I thought ran really well at Christmas in a good race, and I think he wants every bit of this trip now. So, 143, reasonable mark. Soul Icon for Kieran Burke — I think he’s been laid out for this.”

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