Horse racing tips: Four best bets for Kempton and Chepstow

This is most definitely a meeting that his trainer, Evan Williams, targets, and any of his runners merit a closer look.

The rain that has fallen has certainly enhanced the claims of this son of Flemensfirth, as all three of his career wins have come on ground that was soft or worse.

He also has some good form in the book; his win at Ludlow in January reads well, but possibly his best piece of form was his second at Sandown when beaten by the now 130-rated Five Star Getaway to who he was trying to concede 25lb.

Crucially, he also has a strong piece of course form when he finished third in a novice chase and, on that occasion he was comfortably beaten by the 153-rated Simply The Betts, while only two lengths behind Espoir De Guye who now has a rating of 147.

I would expect him to strip much fitter for his reappearance run and with ideal conditions, I expect him to win this.

I don’t think we saw him at his best on his latest outing at Cheltenham. He was very keen throughout the race and possibly didn’t handle the undulations of the track.

Having looked the winner turning for home, he ultimately found less than anticipated off the bridle, and eventually finished fourth beaten three lengths by Knight Salute, who has since franked the form when successful in the Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster.

This bigger field (13 runners) should allow his jockey, Harry Cobden, to find some cover and get him to settle this time. I also think this softer ground will play more to his strengths.

The market has been quite quick to overlook him, but I’d encourage you to give him another chance.

With all of the runners having questions to answer, this doesn’t look the strongest contest.

Tim Vaughan’s team were largely under a cloud last season, but this smart grey was the notable exception as he managed two wins and three placings from five outings.

He reappeared at Ffos Las where he travelled well before possibly blowing up turning for home, and he pluckily stayed on again in the closing stages.

With that run now under his belt, it’s feasible to think improvement is possible, and with soft ground a certainty, he’ll thrive on underfoot conditions, when a few in this field may not.

He’s already delivered a win for us this season over course and distance and I see no reason to abandon him just yet.

A 6lb higher mark in a better race does demand more here, but the form of that win has been boosted by the second, Paso Doble, winning on his next start.

Liam Harrison delivered an impeccably-timed ride last time out when riding with unbelievable patience, and this big field handicap should suit, with a strong pace virtually assured.

He’s only raced on ground worse than good to soft once before and that was on his hurdles debut where he travelled well before tiring late on in a race won by Fiddlerontheroof.

However, I don’t envisage softer ground being an inconvenience (if anything, it might suit), given that he looks a strong stayer at the trip.