8.10pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 18/10/2016

12 runners have been declared for the Class 4 handicap over 1m on Tuesday’s Kempton card. Read our full race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Predictably, the two in-form 3yos towards the foot of the weights are at the head of the market. One of them, Cryptic, bids to complete a C&D hat-trick and the other, Curriculum, has an excellent pedigree and plenty of scope to progress from last month’s maiden win. However, it could be worth chancing DARK OCEAN, who is a rare runner here for his North Yorkshire-based trainer, ran much better than his finishing position suggests when tenth on his latest outing at Redcar and has dipped 1lb below his last winning mark. Mountain Rescue, a C&D winner last month, should also be on the premises and it’s quite possible Column will come good soon.

1 Mountain Rescue – Scored over 1m2f on turf in spring and also hit the target over C&D last month; 4lb higher now but has a handy draw on the inside again tonight and is expected to go well under another positive ride.

2 Bluegrass Blues – Caused 33/1 surprise when making stable debut after long absence at Ascot (1m, good to firm) in July but wasn’t in the same form in two conditions races over that C&D last month; suited by Polytrack but needs to up his game.

3 Best Example – Didn’t get the best of runs when second off today’s mark for Godolphin at Woverhampton (8.6f, AW) in January but hasn’t been seen since and was offloaded by that outfit for £8,500 in July; probably best watched on debut for new stable.

4 Franco’s Secret – Reached the frame three consecutive times over C&D in May/June and good to soft turf probably didn’t suit when he was soundly beaten on his latest outing; however, he remains 4lb above the mark off which he won at Lingfield in February.

5 Column – Yet to add to his 2yo maiden win but still has fairly low mileage and was placed off 1lb higher in Class 3 company at Sandown (1m, good to firm) in July; beaten favourite on both subsequent outings and drawn wide for tonight’s AW debut but still enters calculations.

6 Frozen Force – Three wins this season, the latest in small-field event at Brighton (1m2f, good) in August; will also be suited by today’s trip/surface but might have been better drawn and recent form suggests the handicapper is wearing the trousers now.

7 Dark Ocean – 0-5 on the AW but has been placed a couple of times on Tapeta and ran quite a bit better than the bare form suggests when tenth of 14 at Redcar (1m, good to soft) last time; well drawn here and currently 1lb below his last winning mark; no surprise if he figures.

8 Prince Of Paris – Fluffed the start and was a well-beaten 50/1 shot when dropped back down to 1m here last month; has too much to prove at present.

9 Cayuga – Absent since a down-the-field run over 1m2f at Chelmsford nearly a year ago; returns to action on a workable mark but is not getting any younger and could be considered only if attracting some market support.

10 Cryptic – Progressive 3yo who bids to complete a C&D hat-trick; been raised 9lb in total for his two recent victories and is up in class today but is usually played late and those tactics could make it difficult for the handicapper to get to the bottom of him; commands respect.

11 Curriculum – Well-bred 3yo who delivered on earlier promise when clearcut winner of Chelmsford maiden (1m, AW) last month, his fourth start; drawn wide for tonight’s handicap debut but could easily have a lot more to offer and needs to be taken very seriously.

12 Stylistik – Made quite pleasing seasonal debut when second in 7f classified stakes here in April but been disappointing since then and makes a quick reappearance after suffering a heavy defeat on turf eight days ago.

myracing Forecast Prices: 9/4 Cryptic, 7/2 Curriculum, 6/1 Mountain Rescue, Column, 10/1 Best Example, 12/1 Franco’s Secret, Dark Ocean, 14/1 Frozen Force, 20/1 Bluegrass Blues, 25/1 Cayuga, 33/1 Prince Of Paris, Stylistik