Kempton Placepot: Wednesday January 23

Kempton Park hosts racing tonight.

Timeform's Matt Gardner is targeting Kempton's evening card for Wednesday's Placepot...

16:30 - Poet's Prospect is likely to be popular in the opening leg but preference is for the Mark Johnston-trained Special Meaning, who sets the standard based upon her Lingfield debut. The drop to seven furlongs isn't an obvious move but, with the three-year-old drawn against the rail in stall one, it is hoped that she will bounce out of the stalls under Joe Fanning and make it a test at the trip, with any luck securing her a spot in the first three.

17:00 - Luggers Hall is respected on his return to the Flat but the pair to side with here are Bin Manduro and Federal Blue. The former, a half-brother to US Grade 2 winner Spotlight, showed something to work on when fifth at this venue over a mile last month; the step up in trip faced today will suit and he is fancied to go close. Federal Blue makes plenty of appeal on pedigree, being a half-brother to the dam of the smart Fantasia and out of a Cheveley Park winner, and he is of definite interest on debut.

17:30 - Vitznau was accredited with a BHA rating in the 100s at his peak and, having got back on track for his new yard when ending his losing sequence over seven furlongs at this track last week, seems sure to go very close under a penalty and looks banker material.

18:00 - Few make any real appeal in this contest so the best way forward is to select Bert The Bold, who is less exposed than most at this level, and Strategic Action who, in contrast, is vulnerable to a better-treated rival but often runs respectable and should be suited by the drop back to a mile. 

18:30 - Multi Fours, a three-year-old from the family of Coronation Stakes winner Sophisticat, showed the first signs of ability on her final start in maiden company last time and could now have more to offer upped in trip and sent into handicaps. Taxiformissbyron confirmed the promise shown as a juvenile when winning over C&D earlier this month and, although a 4 lb rise demands more, she ought to be on the premises. 

19:00 - Three and four runner races are always a quandary, as you need to select the winner so you have one of two options: sticking in all of the field and guaranteeing safety or siding with the one that strikes as being most likely to land the spoils. I'm feeling brave today and don't want to waste lines unnecessarily so will take only Foxtrot Jubilee, who could prove a class above his two rivals here. 

Selections:
16:30 - 9
17:00 - 6, 8
17:30 - 1
18:00 - 5, 8
18:30 - 2, 6
19:00 - 2
= 8 lines

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