Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips: Kempton and Catterick selections

Coconut Bay can reverse recent form with Iain Jardine’s Classy Clarets on 6lb better terms, now that the pair meet at his favourite track Catterick. 

The Tristan Davidson-trained gelding has won three times over course and distance, and clearly gets on very well at the tricky track. It may well be significant that he made all the running for his latest two wins, too, and it appears likely he can get the lead here, being drawn nicely in stall three, with slow starters drawn inside of him. 

He has dropped to a rating 8lb below that latest winning mark, and there is little doubt his turn is nearing. 

A line needs to be drawn through Masaban’s performance last time out, but I think it is reasonable to do so.

He was backed into 6-4 favourite but pulled hard, and ended up doing too much too soon in a strongly-run race plus faded out of contention. 

Hopefully, Danny Tudhope will ride a more restrained race here over a furlong less, which might suit Ed Bethell’s contender, and he can be dropped in from his wider draw plus have energy left at the finish.

He had previously been improving with each run this season, so I'm hoping he can resume his progress now.

Charlie Johnston’s gelding has been in consistent form this year after missing the whole of 2025, finishing runner-up on three occasions before gaining a deserved victory last time out, albeit in just a three-runner field.

Baileys Khelstar has been raised just 3lb for that victory, which still puts him on a lower mark than he was running well off back in 2024, and he seems to have returned at least as good as ever. 

Two miles is definitely his trip, and Oisin Murphy was on board for the first time when he scored last time out.