4.15pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 22/08/2017

A field of 11 go to post in this Class 3 handicap raced over 7f. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: SIR TITAN has been handed a poor draw, but he can overcome that and come out on top today. His second place effort behind Battered is the best piece of form in this race and he can make full use of his three-year-old allowance to claim victory. Manton Grange shouldn’t be far away for an in form yard after having shown continual improvement this year and he should go well stepped up in grade.

1 CLAIM THE ROSES – Stall 9 doesn’t aid the chances of Ed Vaughan’s filly in this and she arrives here off the back of a heavy defeat. She finished last of seven, beaten 16 lengths last time out which was disappointing after having been well supported. She’s better on the All Weather which is a positive for today, yet others look better treated in this for win purposes.

2 INTRANSIGENT – Gradually slipping down the weights, he remains on a high enough mark following some less than impressive performances on his last two starts. He’s been given a 102 day break and a 7lb claimer is utilised today. However, he still looks too high in the weights and Andrew Balding’s runner may just struggle in this company today. Best watched.

3 FIRMDECISIONS – The drop back in trip is a positive move for Dean Ivory’s runner, but he remains 5lbs higher than his last winning mark. He’s had plenty of chances in this grade and he was well held last time out at Chelmsford, having been beaten 7 1/2 lengths in a similar race to today’s. His rider claims a useful 3lbs again but others look better treated at the weights.

4 FINELCITY – Goes in search of a four-timer today and he will need to be race fit to score off a 307 day break. He ended his season with a hat-trick of wins and a 4lb higher mark should remain within this dual C&D winner’s sights. Jim Crowley keeps the partnership intact and it’s interesting that the blinkers replace the visor today off a break. Market support would be significant.

5 CAPE ICON – Lightly raced for a six-year-old, making just his tenth start today. He is entitled to improve upon his seasonal reappearance at Nottingham last time out when well held by some useful enough sorts. He’s better on the All Weather and a mark of 84 looks fair based on what he showed last season. A visor is applied for the first time today and he’s another that would be of interest with market support.

6 MANTON GRANGE – George Baker’s runner is tried in first-time cheekpieces today in order to squeeze a bit more improvement out of him. He’s run well all year – with three placed efforts and a win – and a mark of 83 should remain within his sights after having shown continued improvement in Class 4 company last time out. This is another step up in grade, but the yard are flying and he shouldn’t be far away.

7 HUMAN NATURE – Won a C&D handicap off a 3lb lower mark last month in a Class 4 event, That form is solid enough, however more will be needed today against some hardened All Weather handicappers. A mark of 83 is probably about right, yet his run last time out did little to suggest that he’s weighted to go in again. Opposed in this.

8 ATHASSEL – Has shown tremendous improvement for David Evans, soaring from a mark of 46 when he first arrived in the yard to today’s rating of 83. He continues to improve and he’s done himself credit in some decent enough handicaps of late. The handicapper looks to have caught up now and this will ask more of him back up in grade, but he’s a C&D winner and continues to defy the assessor.

9 SIR TITAN – Lightly raced three-year-old who brings some smart form into this. He was only beaten a head by Battered at Goodwood last time out in a stronger race than this and a mark of 88 looks very fair. His three-year-old allowance leaves him well treated with his older rivals and the yard have sent out two winners from their last 7 runners. Stall 11 does give him a serious mountain to climb from the stalls, but he brings solid form into this.

10 ERNSTSTAVROBLOFELD – Hasn’t improved as a three-year-old since tackling longer trips and Martyn Meade’s runner steps up in grade today. That’s invariably going to make life tougher and he’s been beaten off this rating multiple times already. Stall 2 is a good draw and he’s been given a small break so he may have been freshened up over the summer. One to watch in the betting.

11 TAILOR’S ROW – Has won just once from 19 starts and he looks up against it in this. He was well supported last time out but couldn’t get the better of some modest sorts in a Class 5 handicap and this tougher grade is likely to leave him up against it. The switch to the All Weather is positive, however others bring a stronger level of form into this and he may be fighting for the placings.