Today's Horse Racing Tips: Another Kempton success beckons for Bailey?

Prince set to rule for Murphy back at Kempton

14:15 Kempton - Back Mercian Prince @ 8.07/1

Monday's action serves all tastes with Flat fans catered for at Southwell and Dundalk and jumps racing at Kempton, Carlisle and Chepstow. While Carlisle is always a track I enjoy watching, it's hard to dig out a bet there with the small fields.

There are a pair of contenders that make the list for Monday at Kempton though, and Amy Murphy's Mercian Prince takes the eye at a decent 8.07/1.

This horse was bred (and is still owned) by Amy's father Paul and really put the trainer on the map when starting out, and while he isn't quite the force of old, he's well treated from a mark of 127.

He's a tremendous jumper and loves to bowl along in front racing with zest, although it might not be too easy to dominate this field, as one or two others like to be up there. However, Mercian Prince stays 2m4f well, so racing over 2m2f with him forcing the pace should be ideal - especially on good ground that he likes.

Kempton is quite a deceiving venue as it's sharp, but as they get racing early, you still need stamina, and it's a track where the selection has gone well at in the past - including an impressive win in 2019 in a much better standard of race.

Bailey can pull off the three-peat to land another Pertemps pot

14:48 Kempton - Back Younevercall @ 4.03/1

In recent weeks I have put up a pair of Kim Bailey horses in decent races in Two For Gold and Dandy Dan - and both finished second, which was all rather frustrating. I am hoping it's third time lucky with the Gold Cup winning trainer though, as he sends out the fragile, but talented Younevercall.

He lines up for the Pertemps Qualifier at 14:48, and this has very much been his race with victories in the contest in 2016 and 2018. His success in the latter year was most impressive with a fine display of galloping and jumping to run that particular field ragged to win by 10 lengths.

As a 9yo he hasn't been the most robust horse and he's returning to the track today after a 500+ day absence, however, with the yard's horses so fit at the moment, I'm not sure we should have too many reservations about that.

After all, he's the top-rated here from 152 and was last seen winning a Grade 2 around Sandown - slamming horses rated 147, 144, and 152.

Bailey is still operating at a healthy 28% strike-rate in the last two weeks and his weekend team finished 2321 - with a win for El Presente in the Badger Beers.

He's won after a wind op in the past and loves going right-handed on good ground, so there's a fair bit in his favour for Monday.