Horse racing tips for Kempton’s evening card on Wednesday, January 7
Making his debut for Sport News Blitz, horse racing pundit Kieran McHugh finishes the first week of the new year with his first set of tips.
With a new year’s resolution of trying to end the season in profit, he’s hoping it doesn’t go the way of many people’s gym memberships – down the pan.
Kieran McHugh’s racing tips for Kempton
After being abandoned the other day, the All-Weather was promoted back from Most-Weather but I still wasn’t willing to gamble on Lingfield surviving.
Ironically, Kempton was sure to survive (for at least this meeting) and imagine what we’d do without it.
The turf across the country looks set to be frozen for a while, so it seems every tipster and aficionado across the country will be well versed in the art of the class six handicap.
So, after a nice skate around the presumably frozen lake nearby, why not warm up with some sure-fire winners.
17:00 (Kempton) – Try Unibet’s Supportboosts Handicap (London Sprint Series Qualifier)
Filly Foden makes her stable debut for Rod Millman today but having only raced over six furlongs once in her life, this could be a tough ask come the final few yards.
Espona Bay was beaten just over a length over course and distance in October and the form of that race has worked out well. He was unproven off a break and a wide draw doesn’t help.
The services of champion jockey Oisin Murphy are a plus. The vote goes towards Copperfield, the half-brother to Group One winning sprinter Shaquille.
He has been a tad expensive to follow but if he isn’t too keen, this could work out well for him. The addition of headgear is only a plus.
Suggested bet: COPPERFIELD (WIN)
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17:30 (Kempton) – Unibet/EBF Restricted Novice Stakes
Okiru has improved with every run but was soundly beaten by the selection last time out.
You’d be surprised if he didn’t run well but he would need to improve substantially to turn the tables.
Adalida was too bad to be true on her stable debut for Stuart Williams, and a change of headgear could help.
She ran well on her sole start over seven furlongs and this could spark a revival.
Free Your Spirit was a tad disappointing on debut but made up for that with an impressive display last time.
Oisin Murphy has been booked and it would be a shock to see him beat.
Suggested bet: FREE YOUR SPIRIT (WIN)
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18:00 (Kempton) – Bet £20 Get £20 With Unibet Handicap
Up The Anti won at a massive price on his last start and naturally has attracted support today.
Oisin Murphy’s record for Tony Carroll is a tad concerning. Lerwick ran well over course and distance in December under Billy Loughnane and this could run well again.
However, it has been a while since he found the winner’s enclosure.
Rory’s Royale didn’t have the best of trips over course and distance on his last start, and he has a change of jockey today in Luke Morris.
A better trip could see him have a say in this.
Suggested bet: RORY’S ROYALE (E/W)
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18:30 (Kempton) – Try Unibet’s New Smartview Racecards Handicap
Mount Athos returns to handicapping for the first time since winning off this mark here, over this trip. He’s a big danger.
Heathcliff is a reliable sort who has made the frame in his last two. He receives a good whack of weight from Mount Athos and he could surprise him.
Doctor Khan Junior had won four straight before his hat-trick of no shows.
Connections are going well, and he is down to a workable mark.
Market support would make him appealing indeed.
Suggested bet: DOCTOR KHAN JUNIOR (E/W)
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19:00 (Kempton) – Try Unibet’s Same Race Multi Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier)
Forseen is seeking the hat-trick of victories today and Tony Carroll is going well.
If the handicapper hasn’t caught up with him, he’s not out of it.
Rajinoora has Oisin Murphy on-board and arrives here having chased home a subsequent winner last time. That form puts him in with a shout.
Beauty Generation makes his stable debut for Ross Burdon and arrives here a pound lower than his winning mark here last year.
He shares a name with one of the great Hong Kong milers and he might live up to that namesake today.
Suggested bet: BEAUTY GENERATION (WIN)
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19:30 (Kempton) – Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap (London Stayers’ Series Qualifier)
Bashful Bay probably should’ve won at Wolverhampton on Monday and that was probably his chance as today is more of a task.
Sax Appeal is the likely winner of this race. He took his seventh victory of 2025 last time and Warren Fentiman negates the five pounds he has been raised for that.
Barenboim could offer some value against him despite being well-beaten by Charlie Johnson’s charge in September.
He showed somewhat of a reprisal at Wolverhampton on his last two starts and he’s better off at the weights.
Suggested bet: BARENBOIM (E/W)
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20:00 (Kempton) – Industry Leading In-Play Markets At Unibet Handicap
Our finale lends itself to being a headscratcher.
Take The Boat showed signs of a revival on his second race for Georgina Nicholls and he has won three times here. He steps up in trip today.
Fiddlers Green was unlucky not to have won his last two here, going down by a head last time. That form makes him a major player.
Egoiste won here last April off a lower weight. He hasn’t had much luck since but with seven-pound claimer Dominique Van Der Kraats on board, he might have a chance at the weights.
Suggested bet: EGOISTE (WIN)
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