Kempton free racing tip: Close contest expected between course-distance winners

18:40 Kempton: Unibet Zero% Mission Handicap (7 furlongs)

It’s easy to see why Berry Clever has been installed as the firm favourite, and he could well justify that support if able to replicate his last-time-out showing that saw him win see off 13 rivals with more than three lengths in hand over this course and distance just nine days ago.

However, Chris Dwyer’s promising gelding does pay the price with a six-pound penalty here, which possibly leaves the door to the winner’s enclosure ajar for his closest market rivals, of whom King David looks to carry the best value. 

This Marco Botti-trained grey is also a course-distance winner, having landed a competitive eight-runner handicap here on his penultimate outing in early September.

Since then, he was last seen 24 days ago at Southwell, where he finished a never-nearer third of 11, just failing to reel in No Nay Nicki and Embarked, who clung on by just a neck and a nose.

Botti boasts over 16 units of profit when saddling just the one runner at a flat meeting and King David can enhance that statistic further as he looks set to play a major role in this very winnable Class 5 handicap. 

He is still improving and his favourable mark of 72 suggests he remains on the right side of the handicapper for the time being, and with Hollie Doyle back on board after that win here seven weeks ago, King David merits serious consideration at his current price. 

Suggested Bet: King David each-way in the 18:40 at Kempton

• Tip and preview provided by David Xristo on Tipstrr