Wednesday Racing Tips: Cox can Engineer a win in the sprint

There's just the one meeting across the UK & Ireland on Wednesday - an all-weather affair at Kempton Park.

Amongst our selections for the evening is a classy sprinter in the making for trainer Clive Cox who can oblige on handicap debut.

16:55 Kempton - Ben Dikduk @ 15/2

Opening proceedings at Kempton Park is a 7f handicap for horses rated 0-60 and Kevin Philippart de Foy, who won this race two years ago with Covert Mission, can strike with Ben Dikduk.

The New Approach gelding is having his third start for the yard after spells with William Knight and Alice Haynes, and is a huge player in this if you look back at his run here over 6f in August.

Sent off at big odds, he was held up in rear but finished off his race to very good effect, running on into fourth and nearly snatching third close home off a mark of 60.

Now 3lb lower in the weights, the step back up to 7f should suit and he arrives here off the back of two good runs at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

18:00 Kempton - Ithra @ 11/4

Hollie Doyle has a fine book of rides on the night and one of her best chances is aboard Ithra, who runs in division one of the 6f handicap for trainer Archie Watson.

The top weight bounced back from a poor run at Newcastle in November to finish third at Lingfield last month, and now Doyle takes over in the saddle with the horse eased in grade slightly off a 1lb lower mark.

One of the main worries for backers is Ithra's patchy profile but looking back at her run at Yarmouth in May when second to the now 89-rated Wild Side off level weights, she is down to a mark that really can be exploited.

This is also the first time that Doyle has been booked to ride the filly, which could be a tip in itself.

19:00 Kempton - Engineer @ 11/10

The final selection of the night runs in the 6f handicap for horses rated 0-80 and it looks like a golden opportunity for Clive Cox's Engineer to gain a second career victory from four starts.

Third over course and distance on debut in September behind Godolphin's Olympic Candle who has an Irish 2,000 Guineas entry, the son of Showcasing got off the mark next time when sent off a warm order at Wolverhampton in November.

Engineer then bumped into a potentially very smart horse in Mukaafah in a novice over track and trip when last seen, and he certainly won't have anything of that calibre to face off against here on handicap debut.

There's no doubt he is going to have to be a good horse to defy an opening mark of 80, but he looks a nice prospect for the Cox yard, who do well with young sprinters.