7.40pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 24/05/2017

This is an interesting Class 3 handicap over 1m 3f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a tricky little affair and it may be worth taking a chance on STORM ROCK. He remains 3lbs higher than his last winning mark but that came in a better grade than this and he could take advantage of these now dropped down into Class 3 company off a mark of 90. Wadigor is the most obvious threat but he’s been handed a 15lb rise in the weights which tempers enthusiasm slightly.

1 WADIGOR – Hosed up on handicap debut at Newmarket on his last start when he won a Class 4 handicap by 7 lengths with ease. It’s no surprise to see him raised 15lbs in the handicap given the style of that victory and there should be plenty more to come this season now stepped up in trip again for the Roger Varian stable. They’ve been operating at a 23% strike rate in the past fortnight and he’s likely to be popular here and with good reason.

2 JACOB CATS – Seeks a hat-trick today following two Class 4 successes at Kempton last month. He’s been raised 2lbs for a half a length success last time out which looks fair and he shouldn’t be far away again, especially if he has a strong pace to aim at. Jim Crowley replaces Silvestre De Sousa and William Knight has a fair 14% strike rate at Kempton. Shouldn’t be far away but will obviously need more off a near-career high mark.

3 ICKYMASHO – Likely to be the pace angle in this having led early on in her last two starts. She completed a double over 1m 2f at Chelmsford in March and she went close again off a 2lb lower mark earlier this month in a tougher grade. She’s evidently on an upward curve and continues to improve and this is going to require even more so she’s probably worth taking on today for a stable with just a 3% strike rate at Kempton.

4 STORM ROCK – Well-beaten on his last two starts over C&D in better company than this. He wasn’t able to land a blow in either of those contests and this drop in grade off one pound lower should help although he still looks high enough in the weights. He did show some smart form when winning a Class 2 at Salisbury in September off a 3lb lower mark so he can’t be completed discounted with his seasonal reappearance under his belt.

5 MR KHALID – Made a pleasing return to racing last month off a long break. He showed no ill-effects for that absence and he should be even better here with the benefit of that run and he has plenty of catching up to do having only raced three times in his career to date. Roger Charlton has a fair 13% strike rate at Kempton and his runner is worthy of respect here off just a 4lb higher mark.

6 GETBACK IN PARIS – Sole victory came in a Heavy ground maiden last April and he’s now with Richard Hughes having had an unsuccessful spell at Jamie Snowden’s. He has finished second on two occasions for this stable and he’s been raised 2lbs following the latest of those placed efforts which came in a Class 4 at Windsor earlier this month. He doesn’t look that well-treated at the weights and may be worth taking on here.

7 REGICIDE – Broke his maiden at the fourth attempt last month over 1m 2f in a weak maiden at Lingfield. He’s entered into handicap company for the first time today off a mark of 83 which looks stiff enough on what he’s shown although James Fanshawe has an excellent 21% strike rate at Kempton and he’s likely to improve again. He’s worth close attention in the betting and he would be of interest with sufficient market support.

8 HELL YEAH – Switched stable three times before making his racecourse debut which he won back in August 2015. That was a smart performance having won a Class 4 maiden by 1 1/2 lengths but he’s been off the track since and makes just his second racecourse start aged 6. He’s clearly had issues and may be best watched here off what could be a tough enough mark on handicap debut. Market support would make him interesting.