Wednesday 4th February 2026
It’s over to Kempton for four picks on Wednesday, with the first of those four coming within the 1.25, which is a Class 4 fillies’ novice over a mile. Ian Williams could hold the key here with NUPTOWN GIRL, who’s set to be ridden by five-pound claimer Ryan Kavanagh. She went close on her stable debut at Southwell last time out when dropped to a mile, finishing three-quarters of a length second of eight. She’s still unexposed over a mile, and there should be more to come from her on her second start for the Williams outfit, which makes her a significant player here. The main danger looks to come in the form of Too Hot To Tango for Hughie Morrison; she’s been knocking at the door as of late, and a win looks forthcoming.
Our second selection of the afternoon comes within the 2.00, and this is a Class 3 handicap which is also contested over a mile. POPMASTER could make amends for his narrow defeat to the reopposing The Lost King here for Ed Walker and Tom Marquand. He went down by just a neck on that occasion and remains on the same mark for this particular assignment. He also drops into Class 3 company here for the first time in a long time, and the eight-year-old looks solid. It’s hard to look past The Lost King as a main danger, given he was victorious over the selection last time, he could still have more improvement to come, and is a live player under Oisin Murphy.
Next up for us will be the 3.10, which is a Class 4 handicap that’s set to be ridden over a distance of seven furlongs. It could pay to keep the faith with DIAMONDONTHEHILL here for the team of Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole. He’s not been beaten far in each of his last four starts at Wolverhampton, Chelmsford, and Lingfield, and now tries his luck at Kempton. He’s just a pound higher here than when half of a length third of nine last time out, and he should be getting his head in front sooner rather than later. Course and distance winner, I’m Working On It is a big threat to all here, and Rod Millman’s ultra-consistent four-year-old looks sure to be on the premises once again.
The fourth and final selection of the day comes within the 3.45, which is a Class 5 handicap over a mile and three furlongs. The Jennie Candlish-trained IMPERIAL TROOPER makes appeal here under Luke Morris. He posted his best effort since joining this yard last time out at Newcastle, when finishing second of eleven over ten furlongs on a reduced mark. He remains on the same mark for this assignment and should be bang there again if he’s in the same form. Luke Morris’s jockey booking is also a big plus for him. Last time out winner Dust Cover has to merit consideration off just a couple of pounds higher than his Southwell success, and the consistent course and distance winner Must Believe also enters calculations for Ismail Mohammed.
1.25 – Nuptown Girl – 5/1 – (Each-Way) (NAP)
2.00 – Popmaster – 4/1 – (Each-Way) (NB)
3.10 – Diamondonthehill – 11/2 – (Each-Way)
3.45 – Imperial Trooper – 7/1 – (Each-Way)
