Horse Racing Tips: Callan leads the charge in 16/1 Kempton double on Wednesday

• Trainer with 2-5 in the last month at 40%

• Sire stats over 2m point to a good run from tip in finale

• Alan Dudman has a 16/117.00 double for evening action at Kempton

Kempton - 19:00: Back Drumstick @ 15/4

7 (4)

Drumstick

• J: Neil Callan
• T: John Gallagher
• F:

Neil Callan isn't often used by John Gallagher but Callan is a good man to have on your side at Kempton with a 32% placed record dating back to 2005 here. Gallagher, who wouldn't have many runners at Kempton, is currently 2-5 at 40% since 9 December with a level stakes profit of +42.00.

The pair combine with Drumstick who seems to be improving slightly on the All-Weather after a couple of runs at Doncaster towards the back-end of the turf Flat season.

He was only beaten five lengths on Town Moor in a 0-85, a far stronger race, last November won by the well-treated Zip (who was rated 90 at the start of the year). Drumstick wasn't helped by being off the pace as the winner made all.

Drumstick was a massive price then and once more outran his odds at Kempton over CD in the same month, finishing fourth in an apprentice race where he met trouble and was denied a clear run.

A recent third at Newcastle was near a personal best run, once again with an apprentice on. Callan now takes over with the horse unchanged from 68 and a good draw in four this evening.

On his Doncaster effort he's off a mark he can win from and hopefully Gallagher can add to his recent couple of winners in the last month.

Kempton - 20:00: Back Jack McNamara @ 11/43.75

3 (2)

Jack Mcnamara (Ire)

• J: Jack Mitchell
• T: Simon Pearce
• F:

Jack McNamara hasn't stood a lot of racing in his light career so far. He's a five-year-old with just three starts and he's a completely unexposed stayer trying 2m for the first time.

He's a hard one to get a handle on in terms of staying. He was brushed aside by five lengths by the impressive Java Raja for the Gosdens last time at Wolverhampton - a race where McNamara was travelling far better than the winner - but Java Raja is bred for stamina and, while under pressure before the turn, showed a bundle.

The selection was keen from the front and probably did a little too much but in a small field here with similar tactics, I give him a chance of staying with more experience now. I am very much swayed by the stats of his sire French Navy - who over 2m at Kempton has two winners from seven runners and four places at strike-rates of 29% and 57% placed - and those are superior to his overall strike-rate at Kempton. It reads 13% and 33% from 22 runners.

McNamara ran well in a Curragh maiden in October finishing in the runner-up spot over 1m4f at a massive price - he was a BSP 32.0 and hit 2.9 in-running, and the fact he was racing over 1m4f on just his second run gives hope there's a stayer. But those French Navy stats over 2m are good and hard to ignore.

Tonight is his first dip into a handicap from an opening mark of 78.

Now read Alan Dudman's latest antepost preview for this weekend at Kempton here!