Kempton free racing tips: Course-distance winner can make presence felt on return to all-weather

18:45 Kempton: Unibet Support Safe Gambling Handicap (1 mile)

One Step Beyond is usually ridden by claiming and amateur riders and the last time he was ridden by a jockey who has ever won around here before came in the summer of last year, when Conor Planas partnered him to a cosy three-length win in a 14-runner handicap over today’s very trip.

Racing off a mark of 67, Gary and Josh Moore’s gelding strode clear to win very easily, with eight of his 13 rivals that day rated higher than any he faces off just a pound higher today, so he has to be of serious interest because this the seven-year-old’s first return to this circuit.

He won that far stronger handicap very comfortably despite coming out of stall 11 and not having run for 130 days. He has a slightly kinder draw this time, as well as the assistance of Tom Queally, the first professional to have ridden him for quite some time.

One Step Beyond is a far more effective performer on the all-weather than he is on turf, as can be seen from the fact that seven of his eight career wins have come on synthetic tracks compared to only one on turf.

Best Bet : One Step Beyond each-way in the 18:45 at Kempton

He hasn’t raced on the all-weather since June last year, when he finished  third of 12 in a much stronger Class 4 handicap at Chelmsford, just a week or so after his easy win over this course and distance.

After those two runs, his mark went up to 73, but his lengthy sequence of turf runs, during which he has been partnered by claimers and amateurs, has served to bring his mark back down to 68, his lowest mark since last season’s successful run here.

This race looks to have been very well-found for him and the booking of Queally signifies a strong intent to make full use of One Step Beyond’s attractive mark as he moves back into his favoured all-weather domain.

Of the others, Kaaranah recorded his most recent win over this course and distance this time last season when he beat ten rivals rated up to 76 by over a length.

He ran better than his finishing position suggests at Lingfield last time out in March, when he missed the break and came wide around the final bend before finishing strongly.

Kaaranah is only two pounds higher than his last winning mark of 66, and he has won straight after a break before (albeit not as long as this 201-day lay-off).

Next Best Bet: Kaaranah in the 18:45 at Kempton

• Preview and tips provided Steve Jones, who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr