Kempton Park Tips: Blue Empress ready to shed maiden tag

There's an evening of midweek all-weather racing in store on Wednesday from Kempton Park, with seven races set to unfold at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue. They get going at 17:00 and race through until 20:00, with the Polytrack surface set to be 'standard to slow'.

Ahead of the action, here are three horses worth looking out for, including Blue Empress for Archie Watson in the sprint maiden over 6f.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

18:00 Kempton – Blue Empress @ 4/1

BLUE EMPRESS stands a strong chance of opening her account at the third time of asking for Archie Watson in this maiden over 6f.

The Blue Point filly ran respectably in what has proved a hot York novice contest back in May and wasn't spotted for 195 days until last month's all-weather bow at Newcastle.

She made most of the running in that contest and was never given an easy time. Favourite Badge Of Honor provided a sustained challenge from the 2f pole and, while Blue Empress would eventually win that duel, the winner Showering finished over the top of them both for a clear-cut win.

William Haggas's colt has since ran an excellent race under a penalty at Gosforth Park, only finding a well-backed newcomer from the Karl Burke team too strong.

As such, that previous form has some substance to it and with any further improvement forthcoming, this filly should put her experience to good use and get off the mark.

18:30 Kempton – Big R @ 13/2

BIG R was behind an old foe in Greenham Bay over course and distance last month but Eve Johnson-Houghton's charge may be set to turn the tide now.

The Cotai Glory gelding was back from a break of two months in that contest and just managed to shape as if the run would bring him on.

He likes to be handy but was off the speed from early on and did some good work late in the piece to be beaten only two lengths at the post.

He has a 5lb swing on these terms with the winner and that's before factoring in the 7lb claim of Oliver Carmichael in the saddle.

Big R is a dual C&D winner and had only been out of the placings once in seven attempts over track and trip prior to that run last time. He's below his last winning mark and looks primed for a positive showing.

20:00 Kempton – Jack McNamara @ 4/1

Having shown ability when second in a maiden at the Curragh (1m4f, yielding) on second start in October, JACK MCNAMARA went off favourite for a Wolverhampton maiden over the same trip on first start for Simon Pearce last month.

He made the running and was perhaps a bit too keen at times in doing so. The John & Thady Gosden-trained Java Raja powered home to win in good style, but the eventual runner-up did well not to fold and battled back to reclaim second spot close to home from the 85-rated Redhot Whisper.

He steps up in trip for this handicap debut and an opening mark of 78 may underestimate him.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.