Kempton Park Tips: Defence Missile ready to fire on Wednesday

There's lots of racing to enjoy on Wednesday, with five UK and Irish meetings headlined by the opening afternoon of York's Ebor Festival. They also race at Kempton in the evening, with six events on the Polytrack from 17:50-20:30.

I've picked out a trio of Kempton Park tips, including a couple of leading contenders for trainer Eve Johnson-Houghton on what looks set to be a fine evening for her team.

18:20 - Defence Missile @ 5/2

Five runners are set to contest this nursery over a mile at Kempton and it would be tough to rule any of them out. Harmonia has notched successive wins at Catterick and Thirsk over 7f for David Evans to go 2-3 in handicaps and could still have more to offer but the Time Test filly is asked for more by the assessor off a new mark of 73 ahead of this rise in class/AW bow.

Chelsea Embankment, Brindavan and Pivotal Days have all shown some promise too but Eve Johnson-Houghton's colt DEFENCE MISSILE is the selection.

The son of Sottsass was second in a Newbury maiden over 6f on debut in May, with the winner Mr Chaplin last spotted winning a Glorious Goodwood nursery off a mark of 88.

Defence Missile meanwhile found the Chesham at Ascot in June a big ask on second start but has since run well in novice company at Salisbury (7f, good) last month, with the runner-up there, Original Outlaw, finishing second behind Mr Chaplin that Goodwood event since.

An opening mark of 80 is within the reach of Charles Bishop's partner and this additional stamina-test looks a positive.

20:00 - Matharu @ 5/6

The second nursery on the card is over seven furlongs and it looks a good opportunity for MATHARU to get on the scoresheet.

The Mohaather colt showed very little in three runs in maiden/novice company but did find himself in some good company, including a Class 2 at Ascot.

He moved into handicaps at this track over a mile earlier in the month and duly improved in first-time blinkers to finish second to fellow improver and handicap debutant Lazieelunch.

They pulled a long way clear of the remainder and there wasn't much between them at the line. The Richard Hughes-trained youngster is 6lb well-in on official terms here and should get off the mark.

20:30 - God Bless America @ 7/2

The finale is a Class 5 event over 7f and offers recent C&D second GOD BLESS AMERICA a chance to go one better.

The Due Diligence gelding has now finished in the money in 3-4 all-weather starts, his only blip coming over much further at Lingfield last month when he folded after attempting to make all.

A more patient approach here a fortnight ago in first-time tongue-tie almost paid off and, with that aid retained and just a 1lb ratings rise to contend with, he looks sure to have a major say in what could prove to be a profitable evening for Eve Johnson-Houghton's string.

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