Kempton best bets: Knebworth ready to confirm class, Watchya worth an each-way look

16:55 Kempton: Virgin Bet Fives handicap (6 furlongs)

In a race packed with capable sprinters, it’s no surprise that the top of the betting is made up of the only three last-time-out winners in the field.

Of those, the lightly-raced Azure Angel looks a worthy favourite after winning four of five outings over the last 18 months, including on season debut at Newcastle in February, while Ferrous also looks a big player on polytrack debut after winning a 12-runner handicap at Wolverhampton a month ago.

Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Exalted Angel finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet

Runner-up in that same race was the Richard Hughes-trained Knebworth, who has since confirmed that promising season debut by going on to land a 14-runner handicap at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting 13 days ago.

He raced on level terms with Ferrous at Wolverhampton, but is now effectively nine pounds better off, thanks to the seven pounds claimed by Ethan Jones, who retains his place in the saddle after their Doncaster success, thus giving Knebworth a great chance of reversing that form here.

Suggested best bet: Knebworth in the 16:55 at Kempton

• Tip advised by Interesting Method on Tipstrr

If the winner is likely to come from the market leaders, then the four available each-way places open the door for the remainder of the line-up, with the likes of Desert Cop, Exalted Angel and Intervention all capable of making their presence felt in a race of this nature.

Creating the biggest buzz in the Tipstrr camp, however, is George Baker’s Watchya, who would appear to have plenty to do on his season debut following a six-month winter break.

However, the five-year-old grey does have a knack for running well when fresh, and indeed won on season debut a couple of years ago to kickstart a career-best sequence of three wins in five outings during 2022.

He has failed to make the winner’s circle in ten subsequent attempts and was last seen finishing 1oth of 12 over this course and distance in November.

The extended break and a two-pound reduction should help erase that performance from the memory bank, and it will interesting to see if he can hit the ground running again under Neil Callan, who appears to have brought better out of the five-year-old the last two times they teamed up.

Possible punt: Watchya each-way in the 16:55 at Kempton

• Tip advised by Elite Horse Tips on Tipstrr

 

READ MORE: Saturday ITV racing Tips: Best bets for Kempton and Chelmsford on April 6