Wednesday Lucky 15 Tips: Thank goodness for the all-weather stars

Greetings - we hit the post with a couple of seconds yesterday, and I'd rather be knocking on the door than looking over the garden fence. Or something like that.

The weather is having its say as the new year stretches its legs, and we have but one solitary meeting on Wednesday, Jan 3rd - eight races on Kempton's Polytrack all-weather surface, between 16.55 and 20.30.

As a big fan it's no hardship to look towards Sunbury-on-Thames for our inspiration, and with the likes of Marquand, Ryan, Hollie Doyle and Loughnane present, the competition will be red-hot.

This is an example of how to put together a Lucky 15 - if you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it! Going each-way today - looking for some value among the bigger prices.

The odds can of course fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.25p each-way Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £1,091 for your total £7.50 stake.

Popular legend confirms that Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. Want the lowdown - all the ins and outs? My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

17.30 - Budding @ 11/1

Budding is a 3-yr-old Cracksman filly trained by Hughie Morrison at East Ilsley. He sent out a winner at Lingfield the other day so the stable is wide awake.

She's had just the one start to date - a respectable effort here 3 weeks ago, making some late gains and eventually being beaten 5+l. She's fully entitled to benefit from that outing and what can you say about the jockey booking?

Billy Loughnane has been one of the stories of the last 12 months or so, and the engagement to me says Budding has every chance of being competitive this afternoon/early evening. Nicely drawn in the four box.

As stated earlier we've going for an each-way Lucky 15 today so let's hope this is a good start point for a place at least.

19.00 - Bulldog Drummond @ 5/1

It's that man Loughnane again, this time on a George Boughey gelding who won nicely last time at Newcastle.

'Bulldog' took that 6f Class 5 in the north-east in career-best fashion and is evidently in great heart right now. Same trip today but off a 5lb higher mark and up a notch in class. Plenty on then, but that last effort signalled a significant step forward and Billy has ridden the horse a couple of time before so knows him well.

Had a slightly troubled passage late at Newcastle too, so the performance can be marked up a little for me.

19.30 - Legacy Power @ 7/1

A King Power 4-yr-old gelding in the care of Andrew Balding.

Very lightly-raced - just 3 spins so far - and makes his handicap debut off a gentle-looking mark of 73. Has shown signs of ability, especially on debut at Lingfield, and is by Time Test, who was a Group-class horse at around and just short of this trip.

Nicely drawn in 2 and gets claimer Callum Hutchinson, who takes off a useful 3lb. A sporting selection, and we're paying four places each-way in this race.

20.30 - Rising Force @ 7/2

The lucky last, and another very fine pilot who excels under any conditions, at any time of the year. David Probert gets the leg up on Robert Eddery's 3-yr-old gelding who since winning off a mark of 50 in Sept has looked in the grip of the handicapper.

Last time at Chelmsford off 56 he was given plenty to do and ran on. By sprinter Mehmas, 1m might not immediately appeal but he's only tried it the last twice and if getting the rhythm of the trip right then this, plus Probert's undoubted skill, could unlock that little bit of improvement required to get him scoring again.

Good luck, and above all, enjoy.

Lucky 15 tips, with Betfred Insights.