8.15pm Kempton Tips & Betting Preview 22/02/2017

The last race of the day is a wide open handicap over 2 miles at Kempton, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Another chance is given to NIGHT GENERATION to reverse the form with Shan Dun Na Ngall and take the spoils here. He’s 5lbs better off with the latter and is worth another chance now he’s back in the right grade. Le Tissier is well treated at the weights and could prove the biggest threat to Chris Gordon’s runner but he is still a maiden after 16 starts and has had plenty of chances to record his first victory. The selection is a fair price now reuniting with Luke Morris who has won on him three times before.

1 NIGHT GENERATION – Beaten four-and-a-quarter lengths by Shan Dun Na Ngall on his last start but receives a five pound pull in the weights for that defeat which makes him interesting here. He has shown marked improvement on his last two runs at Lingfield and a further 1lb drop in the weights makes him competitive today. Chris Gordon’s strike rate of one from 35 at Kempton leaves a lot to be desired, but aged just five he should still have some improvement to come over this trip. He’s still lightly raced at this trip and should be thereabouts back in class 6 company.

2 SHAN DUN NA NGALL – Has been a revelation since arriving at Amy Murphy’s yard winning three of his last four races. He has steadily risen through the weights, but is clearly on an upward curve having won his last race well by two-and-three-quarter lengths. He has been raised another four pounds for that victory which will make this much tougher at a track he is yet to race at. There are no stamina doubts, with two of his wins coming over this trip and with a victory at one mile five furlongs, he may have a turn of foot some of his opponents lack. He is likely to attract market support again, but the yard have been in poor form in the past fortnight and the handicapper may be starting to get to grips with him.

3 SHALIANZI – He has not been seen on the flat since summer 2015, but Chris Gordon’s second runner in this race is of interest. This is his first run in Class 6 company and he races off a three pound lower mark than when last seen on the flat, which may leave him potentially well treated. George Baker is an interesting booking, having ridden Shan Dun Na Ngall to victory last time out. That may be significant given that he has a 19% strike rate at Kempton this season. He is completely unexposed at this trip on the flat and, with plenty of proven stamina, may benefit from a prominent ride today.

4 DELAGOA BAY – Sylvester Kirk’s C&D winner popped up at 16/1 off a mark of 53 at the end of last year and remains competitive off a six pound higher mark. She finished a neck ahead of Ascendant at Wolverhampton on her last start when triple the price in the betting. Unlike many in this field, she has been campaigned solely on the flat and the two mile track around Kempton should suit. The booking of Adam Kirby is extremely positive (first time up), but she will have an effective five pound rise with the loss of Mitch Godwin’s claim. Kirk has trained two winners from 23 runners so far in 2017, whilst Kirby has a good 16% strike rate around here.

5 MONEY TALKS – This is his first attempt over two miles and, whilst unexposed at the trip on the flat, he will need to do more to be competitive today. He was backed into 16/1 from 33/1 when last seen at Kempton, but was unable to trouble the winner and lost second in his final strides. He is a winner over obstacles over two miles and two miles four furlongs, so his stamina is assured. He has also taken well to polytrack, so there may be more to come. This is a stronger race, though, and he will need to step up again to be competitive here for a trainer lacking a win in 2017.

6 ASCENDANT – Aged 11, he was unable to get his head in front when well backed last time out, having been unable to quicken over 2m 1/2f. He has been tried over obstacles for the past couple of years and his lack of pace may see him come unstuck against some more progressive types. Johnny Farrelly has not trained a winner at Kempton in 12 attempts over the last five seasons.

7 TARAKKOM – A C&D winner, he has badly struggled for form since returning from a short break and looks up against it today. Whilst one pound lower than his last winning mark, he is still 11 pounds higher than when he won here last winter. He has shown little progress of late to suggest a return to form is likely. David Parkes takes off five pounds.

8 LE TISSIER – He came very close to breaking his maiden tag on his last run at Lingfield when sent off a well supported 9/4 favourite (backed from 7/2). He was beaten by Shan Dun Na Ngall two starts ago at Lingfield, but is now six pounds well-in due to his weight for age claim which should see him finish much closer this time around. He ran fairly well at Kempton several starts ago off four pounds higher, but that was his only start at two miles and he is yet to convince that this trip and track suit. He is well treated at the weights, however that rarely makes things straightforward in this grade.

9 LAST SUMMER – Has been dropping through the weights since making his handicap debut last summer. He has been well beaten off similar marks, but did win a bumper over this trip which suggests stamina is no issue. A son of New Approach, he was bought for £10,000 last year and there is still more to come from this lightly raced six-year-old now stepped up in trip again. Cheekpieces are used for the first time and that may see him apply himself better here. May be of interest at a very big price.

10 NEWTON CROSS – A dual C&D winner, Tom Marquand’s mount is another slipping down the weights to a career low mark. Jimmy Fox does well at Kempton, recording a profit of £14.50 over the last five seasons here. The yard is also in good form, having sent out a winner at this course last week. His form is of a fair standard, having only been beaten a length off four pounds higher. However, he was unable to get competitive on his last start off today’s mark (48) when staying on to take third and this may just be too tough again.

11 BARNACLE – Steps back up in trip today having been beaten off handicap marks of 45 and 46 in his last six starts since returning from a three year absence. Joe Fanning is an interesting booking and his run three starts ago did hint at some ability. However, his overall form is very poor and he is yet to prove he really stays the trip. Emma Owen has recorded two wins from 35 runs in the last five seasons at Kempton and others make more appeal.