Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Jonny Portman trained BROAD APPEAL (best priced at 20/1) has won twice at Kempton in his career and looks competitively handicapped off a mark of 64. The eight-year-old won over 1m3f here off a mark of 62 on his penultimate visit to the track and showed in April at Lingfield that this mark of 64 should be within reach.

Broad Appeal finished 2nd off a mark of 67 at Lingfield showing that this mark of 64 should mean that he is competitive on his return to this venue. He has won off a 176 day break and 295 day break and finished 2nd off a 161 day break and 207 day break so we know he runs well fresh so this return following a 160 day break should be seen as a positive. Bookmakers are offering up to four places on this race and he should run well despite coming out of Stall 12. 

The Mark Walford trained JOHNSON'S BLUE (best priced at 6/5) failed in his attempt of a five-timer last time at Aintree but he now drops back down in class in this race. The five-year-old had previously won handicaps at Hexford and Cartmel off marks of 95, 99, 103 and 110 before finishing 4th in a Class 2 Pertemps Qualifier at Aintree last time behind subsequent Coral Gold Cup runner-up Remastered. 
The handicapper has dropped Johnson’s Blue 1lb for that effort down to a mark of 119 and he should now prove hard to beat back down to Class 3 company. 
 

Middleham Park Racing have a strong hand in this handicap with both Nolton Cross and LEXINGTON KNIGHT (best priced at 7/2) and preference goes to the latter who is unbeaten at Wolverhampton. The Richard Hannon trained four-year-old won by three lengths over this course and distance in August off a mark of 66 before following up last time over the same course and distance by ¾ length off a mark of 69.

The handicapper has raised Lexington Knight 3lbs for that victory which is fair and he should prove hard to beat with Alec Voikhansky claiming a handy 7lbs.