5.20pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 01/02/2017

A marathon trip is awaiting the horses on the final race of the day at Kempton, see our betting tips and the full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: Canadian Diamond is a C&D winner and has won the last twice in good fashion so has to be respected, but this can go to THOMAS BLOSSOM. He’s very consistent and was staying on the strongest when third at Lingfield two weeks, so this longer trip will suit perfectly. He stays this far and further so stamina is no problem and he’s likely to run very well Ali Stronge with the ever inform Adam Kirby taking the ride.

1 CANADIAN DIAMOND – Won over C&D on his penultimate start in good style and a 5lb rise wasn’t enough to prevent him going back to back over this trip at Southwell in January. Now on an all time high mark on the flat which demands more but Richard Rowe’s ten year old is going from strength to strength at present and if improving again he’s likely to put up a strong challenge. Likely to feature prominently under Adam Beschizza and has to be respected.

2 THOMAS BLOSSOM – Consistent sort who has been running well of late and was closing in at the finish when third at Lingfield two weeks ago (1m 3f, Std). Going up in trip looks certain to suit and is only 4lb above his last winning mark which looks certainly achievable. Stays this trip out strongly and has to have leading claims for Ali Stronge with the inform Adam Kirby (14-53 in the past two weeks) on board so has to be respected as such.

3 YASIR – Another consistent runner who won at Wolverhampton over the two mile trip in early January, running on very strongly towards the finish. Now 4lb above that mark after finishing fourth over the same C&D a week few weeks later but has won off this mark in the past and is one who can usually be relied on for a good effort. Likely to run well again but will need all the splits as an out and out hold up horse and if getting them will be very dangerous under Paul Mulrennan.

4 VEDANI – Has been poor on his last three runs over hurdles which is a concern but he did finish fourth in this race last year and not beaten far off 3lb lower. His current form however does have to put into question whether he is up for doing that again and his record of 0-8 on the all weather doesn’t make for impressive reading. Others have far more pressing claims and it’d be quite a surprise to see him winning this today under George Downing.

5 TYNECASTLE PARK – Hasn’t landed a blow in five runs to date for Robert Eddery including his latest start when sixth at Southwell two weeks ago (1m, Std). Plugged on that day which gives hope that this longer trip will suit and he’s a half sister to a 1m 6f Group 2 winner which further boosts that theory. Certainly an interesting proposition under Jack Mitchell and entitled to go much better today so has to be given live each way claims.

6 CAPPIELOW PARK – Multiple winner over hurdles but record on the flat now stands at 0-18 and he didn’t look any closer to breaking his maiden when a poor seventh here over 1m 3f at, never really involved. That was in a Class 7 event and he’s likely to find this even harder in a more competitive event, and its hard to make any sort of case for him despite being off a lowly mark of 47. Would be a shock winner of this.

7 CELESTIAL DANCER – 0-14 on the flat with only three places to show for his efforts, and he didn’t see the trip out at all well when last at Wolverhampton over the two mile trip early in January. Its possible leading didn’t suit but in any respect he didn’t stay the trip which makes him very hard to fancy with no clues from his pedigree to suggest he’d be able to see it out. Lightly raced for a five year old and managing to see it out better he’d have possible each way claims, but impossible to give him any more.

8 OYSTER CARD – Desperately needs to raise him game with a record of 0-12 thus far but showed signs of life on his latest start when 3/4 of a length behind Yasir at Wolverhampton two weeks ago (2m, Std). Cheekpieces go on in the hope of initiating further progress for Michael Appleby and that certainly cannot be discounted, as he has been consistent for a while now without winning. Likely to run well again if the cheekpieces have the desired effect and has to be respected.