Kempton early value racing tip: Republican to go the distance
Tipstrr horse racing expert Steve Jones has cast his eye over Monday's Kempton race card for us, and has picked out a hurdling stayer as his best bet of the day.
Assuming that Republican is fit and ready to go first-time back from an extended break, he could take some beating in Monday's company over what has become his preferred three-mile distance.
13:50 (Kempton) Republican
He hasn't run over hurdles since, with his two subsequent outings being over fences, and although he showed some chasing promise, it appears to be a smart move to kick off in a lower-grade hurdle race first time out this term, especially as his mark has dropped six pounds since his untimely fall at Perth.
Over the last two weeks, Oliver Sherwood has sent out three winners from thirteen runners, and significantly all three of those winners were all achieved on seasonal debuts after absences of over six months.
Not only that, but they were all heavily backed in a way that suggested that their supporters were confident their horses were fit and ready to win first time back, and that confidence was rewarded by winning distances that ranged between two and eight lengths
On that recent evidence, Republican should also be in good shape, and with Brendan Powell on board he has to be a strong bet under these conditions, which would be even more suitable should the surface dry out a little.