Best bets for the day from Steve Ryder and Oddschecker Unlimited tipsters, as well as key races to follow.
13:02 Lingfield
There is jumps racing at Kempton and Bangor-on-Dee on Friday 7th February while Lingfield, Southwell and Dundalk stage all-weather meetings.
Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder
A huge benefit in these apprentice handicaps is when a jockey has ridden the horse previously and that is the case with ETRETAT (best priced at 5/2) and Archie Young. The Charlie Johnston trained four-year-old has been a model of consistency the past few months with form figures of 13213 on the AW and on all of those occasions he has been ridden by Archie Young.
Etretat won over this course and distance on his penultimate start off a mark of 68 and was only beaten off this mark at Chelmsford last time by 1 ¾ lengths. He is well drawn in Stall 5 and should prove hard to beat.
13:42 Bangor-on-Dee
With doubts surrounding Heva Rose following her pulled up effort behind MICKS JET (best priced at 5/2) last time, it looks a good opportunity for the latter to follow up. The Philip Kirby trained seven-year-old finished second on her chasing debut at Fakenham but improved in first-time cheekpieces to win at Wetherby by 18 lengths.
The handicapper has raised Micks Jet 10lbs for that comfortable victory up to a mark of 115 and she should hold strong claims of following up with Joe Williamson once again claiming 3lbs.
15:25 Kempton
Connections of FLEGMATIK (best priced at 5/2) have waited until his return to Kempton to fit him with first time blinkers and he should be able to record a fourth victory at the track. The Dan Skelton trained ten-year-old has a brilliant record at the track with form figures of 31102142 including a victory here in January last year over Chianti Classico off a mark of 137.
Flegmatik ran well last time at Ascot to finish 3rd beaten 5 ½ lengths off a mark of 132 and he has been dropped 1lb for that down to a mark of 131. This will be his first run at Kempton since finishing 2nd by 1 ¼ lengths in March off a mark of 140 and he should get back to winning ways in this race.
