Kempton (AW) Tips: Wednesday 19 August 2026

Kempton (AW) Tips: Wednesday 19 August 2026

A mid-week Kempton card on Standard To Slow Polytrack might not have the glamour of a festival, but it rewards those who dig into the form. Three races stand out tonight, each offering a genuine angle rather than just backing the market leader and hoping. The Crisford yard is firing at a strong clip right now, Roger Varian’s team is in form, and there is at least one handicap price that looks too big given what the horse has been doing recently.

6:30 — Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (7f, 13 runners)

The market has made Algaihabane the clear favourite at 5/6, and with the Gosden operation running at 25% over the last fortnight you can see why. But the price is far too short for a debutant novice, even a well-bred Gosden one. There is no public form to assess and a 13-runner field on Standard To Slow ground means there is chaos baked in.

Sonic Angel at 11/4 (BoyleSports, Betfred) is the selection. Simon and Ed Crisford have sent out 10 winners from 26 runners in the past fortnight, a strike rate that would embarrass most yards in midsummer. Kempton suits them well at 19% course record. Sonic Angel brings a winning debut to the table, which no other runner in this field can match. Form reading simply “1” is the most compelling form line in any novice field. Jack Mitchell partners him, a polished jockey who knows his way around this track.

Algaihabane will attract plenty of money and might be the one, but you are laying 5/6 about an unknown quantity. Sonic Angel has already answered the key question.

Selection: Sonic Angel, 11/4 (BoyleSports/Betfred)

7:30 — Handicap Stakes Div I, London Mile Series Qualifier (1m, 10 runners)

This is a tricky mile handicap and the market has a go at sorting it, landing on Lake Como as the 7/4 favourite. The 74-day absence is a legitimate concern for the selection, and George Boughey’s yard is ticking along rather than flying right now at 5 from 22.

Breakdancer Each-Way at 8/1 (BoyleSports/LiveScore Bet) is the value play. Simon and Ed Crisford are the key ingredient here again. A yard running at 38% over the last fortnight is simply on fire, and Jack Mitchell takes the ride. Breakdancer ran third last time over the same trip and going, which ticks the conditions box cleanly. He has been knocking on the door without quite converting, but horses in that pattern with a red-hot trainer often find one at around this mark. The stall nine draw from an outer position is not ideal but not a death sentence at a mile on the Polytrack.

Chapter at 15/2 (BoyleSports) is worth a mention. He won two starts back and was placed last time out, giving him the most positive recent profile in the field. Charles Hills has four winners from 18 runners in the past two weeks and Jason Watson knows this course. He is not the headline pick but worth keeping onside in the forecast if you are building exotics.

Selection: Breakdancer, 8/1 each-way (BoyleSports) — 3 places at 1/5 odds

8:00 — Handicap Stakes Div II, London Mile Series Qualifier (1m, 10 runners)

Distinct Spirit is a non-runner, which tightens the field slightly. Racingbreaks Ryder is the standout on form, and at 3/1 the market has recognised it. Back-to-back wins, fit from just seven days ago, a 10lb pull in the weights and Charles Hills in decent nick. That is a compelling case and Charles Hills taking the second division winner of the night is entirely plausible.

But for those who want a bigger price, Starlight Time Each-Way at 6/1 (BoyleSports/Betfred) is the each-way shout. Roger Varian has sent out six winners from 22 runners in the past fortnight, a 27% strike rate that puts him firmly in the “yard firing” category. Varian also hits 21% at Kempton specifically over a large sample. Starlight Time won four starts back and the three subsequent defeats need context: he has not been running badly, just not quite getting there. The 133lb weight and stall four are both workable, and an 18-day turnaround leaves him reasonably fresh. The 6/1 is fair value for a Varian runner on a track the trainer handles well.

Racingbreaks Ryder remains the most likely winner and is a solid win single if you want the shorter price with the better form. Starlight Time is the play for those wanting more than evens back on the place.

Selection: Racingbreaks Ryder (win), 3/1 (BoyleSports/LiveScore Bet). Each-way alternative: Starlight Time, 6/1 (BoyleSports/Betfred)

Today’s NAP

Sonic Angel — EBF Novice Stakes (6:30, Kempton AW)
Odds: 11/4 — BoyleSports (others: 11/4 Betfred, 5/2 LiveScore Bet)

The only horse in the field with a winning run under its belt, Sonic Angel brings a debut victory to a novice contest full of unknowns. Simon and Ed Crisford are in outstanding form at 10 from 26 over the last fortnight, they handle Kempton well at 19% course record, and Jack Mitchell is a confident booking. Algaihabane will be popular but you are taking a short price about an untested debutant from the Gosden yard when Sonic Angel has already won in public. The 11/4 represents genuine value.