7.45pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 03/02/2017

An interesting handicap qualifier for the London Mile Series is the penultimate race of the day at Kempton on Friday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: After having excuses on his first start for just under a year, the dangerously handicapped LACAN can take his fourth career victory today for Ralph Beckett. A previous C&D winner, he’s now 7lb below his last winning mark and may well be very tough to beat if back to his best off a mark of 86. This is his lowest career mark and it’d be surprising were he not to put in a good performance, and he should be up to beating the likes of Blue Revelation, who has to be respected on his second start to Paul Webber after winning after a long break on only his second career start.

1 ICE ROYAL – Has run decent recent races the last twice, midfield at both Chelmsford (1m, Std) and Wolverhampton (1m, Std). He was very close on his latest start when only around half neck in third behind Sands Chorus, but has a pull with that rival who also has Stall 9 to worry about. Likely to run another solid race under Lucy Barry who claims 5lb for the inform Jamie Osbourne team off the same mark as his latest third and has to be respected as a main danger.

2 LACAN – Previous C&D winner who has had excuses on his first run after a near year break at Wolverhampton in January (1m, Std), and is now 7lb below his last winning mark for Ralph Beckett and the China Horse Club. Likely to run much better this time around with the run under his belt at a track he’s won at previously and has to be respected, as at his best of this mark he’d incredibly dangerous and looks the one to beat.

3 AMAZEMENT – Won on his penultimate start at Newcastle (1m, Std) in good style but failed to cope with the 6lb rise when well beaten over the same C&D a month later when last seen in December. Seemed to be struggling from an early stage that time around and that isn’t likely his true running, but he does now have questions to answer on the back of it. Luke Morris retains the ride and if back to his best he’d have place claims from the plum draw in stall 1, but does need to bounce back in a big way.

4 HONIARA – Career best on his latest start at Lingfield over seven furlongs after a short break (7f, Std) for Paul Cole and can race of the same mark again today, though he’s now in an arguably tougher race. He’s entitled to build upon that effort and would have definite each way claims if doing so with Callum Shepherd claiming a useful 3lb, though he is still yet to win on British shores. One of the more likely candidates and should have further progress in him as a four year old, but others have more pressing claims for win purposes.

5 FRANCO’S SECRET – Has been in good form the last twice, finishing second here over C&D on penultimate start in December and despite a 4lb rise he won at Lingfield two weeks ago, running on very well (1m, Std). Can race off a similar mark today with Tom Marquand on board and there is no reason why he can’t raise his game again for the inform trainer Peter Hedger, who has saddled three runs in the past two weeks with two returning to the winners enclosure. Owed respect and one of the likely types.

6 BLUE REVELATION – Not disgraced on debut when fourth at Naas in August 2015 (7f, Good) and won his second start at Lingfield in November, though he didn’t have to prove much at all to win that race. That was however on stable debut and his first start for over a year so he’s likely to improve markedly for the experience, but will need to if he’s to threaten off a mark of 81. Needs to raise his game under George Baker and is very much an unknown quantity for Paul Webber.

7 SANDS CHORUS – Game front runner who won on his latest start at Wolverhampton in January, winning well and taking his second win in three races (1m, Std). Only 1lb higher today but it has to be of concern he’s never gone back to back and stall 9 makes this very difficult for a horse who needs to front run or be prominent. Likely to struggle with all things considered and can only be given place claims for James GIven.

8 MISTER MUSIC – Had been running well in the autumn when last seen, finishing third on his latest start at Newmarket in a competitive looking handicap (1m, Good). Races off the same mark today which is also his last winning mark which makes him very interesting, though he’s yet to win on the all weather surface. Adam Kirby takes the ride who is in great form and Tony Carroll’s yard is also amongst the winners at present, so he has to be respected and is likely to put up another good effort, though he would be entitled to need this run after a break.

9 FREIGHT TRAIN – Has trailed home last and well beaten on both starts thus far for the Adrian Wintle yard and is yet to figure on any of his all weather starts. He’s been well beaten on all four occasions and his form is very patchy to say the least, and he’s a very risky bet to say the least. Impossible to recommend and best watched.