6.45pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 22/02/2017

Middle distance action is on the agenda for race three on the evening card at Kempton on Wednesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Both Askari and Darebin look to have good claims but perhaps this is the chance that TAKE TWO has been waiting for as he looks for his first all weather win. Running well since returning without managing to pick up that elusive victory, he put in a good shift when third over C&D on his penultimate start and things didn’t pan out for him when beaten at Lingfield when last seen in an amateur riders race. He remains 7lb below his last winning mark on the flat and Luke Morris takes over today, which is a big positive. He should run another solid race from stall 1 and has to be respected as such.

1 DAREBIN – Three timer hurdle winner who was rated 123 rated in that sphere, and has transferred that ability onto the flat in recent times. Although third at Lingfield on his penultimate start after not getting a clear run (1m 4f, Std), he made amends when comfortably winning over the same C&D a few weeks later, only winning by a neck but no hard pressed to do so. Handicap debut today on the all weather and a mark of 75 may still see him well handicapped for Gary Moore. George Baker is up first time and he’s likely to run another very good race despite top weight, and has to be respected.

2 INCLUDED – Won a C&D maiden here in September 2015 and had been off since then until reappearing in January, well beaten at Lingfield (1m 4f, Std). She was however entitled to need that and did show signs that she was getting back to her best when fifth at Wolverhampton (1m 4f, Std), though will still need more if she’s to take this. Headgear goes on in a bid to sharpen her up and she cannot be dismissed as improvement is now more than likely, and she has to be respected as such for David Dennis and Oisin Murphy.

3 SAFRIA MENINA – Sprung a 33/1 surprise when winning over C&D in November, albeit in an amateur riders race and she’s been disappointing since then. Her latest start over C&D wasn’t as bad as the sixth place suggests, as she was only beaten around three lengths by the eventual winner, though never looked threatening at any point. Will need a strong pace if she’s to threaten as an out and out hold up horse, and an overall record of one win from fourteen on the all weather doesn’t make for impressive reading. Likely to find at least one of these too good today.

4 LANGLAUF – Winner over the 1m 1f trip when in France back in June at Le Croise-Laroche, though she certainly isn’t bred to appreciate this trip. Well beaten on British debut at Wolverhampton in January (1m 1f, Std), she atoned for that when third here over the 1m 3f trip two weeks ago, keeping on well but never able to challenge. That effort makes her very interesting and she retains Lulu Stanford today who takes off a useful 5lb for Rod Millman’s four year old. Has to have a good chance if staying the longer trip and is respected.

5 TAKE TWO – Still a maiden on the all weather after ten runs, but he has been showing positive signs of late, with three placings from his last four runs. His penultimate third over C&D in January was by no means a poor effort and his disappointing sixth in an amateur riders race at Lingfield two weeks later can be forgotten. Luke Morris takes over today which is a huge help and stall 1 is obviously the perfect place to be breaking from. Holds every chance off a mark of 70, which is 7lb below his last winning mark on the flat, and has to be respected as such.

6 SANDY COVE – Has been midfield on both his runs this year for James Eustace, finishing sixth over C&D in January and the fourth at Chelmsford two weeks ago, not beaten all that far (1m 5f, Std). Stays further than this so stamina is not an issue and his current mark of 70 certainly isn’t beyond him, with a win off a mark of 67 in July on the turf. Likely place claims if building upon those two efforts in conditions that will suit, but he is likely to find at least one of these too good from stall seven.

7 OBBOORR – Hasn’t been particularly consistent this season on the all weather, though showed much more positive signs when third at Wolverhampton eleven days ago (1m 4f, Std), and drops a pound in the handicap. He stays this trip well and is a former C&D winner, with that coming way back in January 2014. A winner on the turf off today’s mark, he cannot be dismissed and looks a likely candidate for the placings if running to his best, but with an overall record of three wins from thirty-one, it’s not hard to oppose him again today.

8 ASKARI – Only four runs thus far under rules, showing minor promise in two maidens back in the spring of 2016. He returned this season when third and not beaten far at Wolverhampton in January (1m 4f, Std), and has a solid base to build off on his second handicap start for Tom Clover. Interesting runner but does need to deal with a step up in class, though the emergence of Jamie Spencer in the saddle is an intriguing jockey booking. Likely to be on the premises if building upon that reappearance and has to be respected as such.