Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Wednesday including 40/1 Kempton pick

• Katie Midwinter has six selections across the cards on a busy Wednesday

• Flaming Rib is the bet of the day following promising run

• Smart gelding makes appeal at the weights

Ludlow, 13:45 - Back Rapper E/W @ 28/129.00

Veteran performer Rapper hasn't been at his best in recent runs but is now 10lb lower than when a creditable second to Threeunderthrufive at Ascot last year and may be able to return to some form from a workable mark.

Trained by Henry Daly, Rapper is entitled to improve for his first run following a 366-day break at Ascot last month and, should he take a step forward from his reappearance, he's well-treated at the weights and could pose a threat.

This is a drop in class for the likeable son of Scorpion, who shouldn't be discounted under Stan Sheppard. He makes appeal at a price of 28/129.00 with proven course form over a trip that suits.

Lingfield, 15:20 - Back Monks Mead E/W @ 7/18.00

Mark Usher-trained Monks Mead hasn't been seen since a third-placed effort to River Wharfe at Brighton in August, which followed another third-placed finish in his previous run. He's 1lb lower than those two efforts now on his return to the all-weather, and could strike from a mark of 49 in the hands of George Bass.

The four-year-old is now 7lb below his last winning mark when victorious in November 2023 at Chelmsford. Despite being winless in over two years, Monks Mead has put in a number of competitive efforts, including when only narrowly denied by My Ambition at Bath last year, and when beaten only half-a-length by Brinton in May. 

From a workable mark, Monks Mead can put in a bold bid as he seeks a third career success in this mile contest, and is one to note at odds of 7/18.00.

Dundalk, 16:55 - Back Hero Of The Hour @ 11/26.50

Eight-year-old gelding Hero Of The Hour has been performing consistently well of late without winning, achieving form figures of 5455 since his return from a break in October.

All of his recent runs at this track have come in competitive handicaps which have all featured 14 runners, and, whilst the son of Lord Kanaloa has struggled to seriously threaten for the major honours, he has emerged with plenty of credit from each outing.

It could be worth keeping the faith in Hero Of The Hour who has previous course-and-distance winning form. He's now 11lb below his last winning all-weather mark and has 10lb claimer Sadhbh Tormey in the saddle, further easing his weight carrying burden.

Making appeal from a rating of 53 with a low weight on his back, Hero Of The Hour could finally strike again at Dundalk to land an eighth career success and holds solid claims. 

Kempton, 17:40 - Back Media Shooter E/W @ 40/141.00

Course-and-distance winner Media Shooter makes his first appearance for the James Owen stable having left Karl Burke, for whom he won four races which included a 14/115.00 Musselburgh success last year in his penultimate start.

Seen only once since his latest win, the four-year-old must defy a 220-day absence to win here, but could be capable of showing further progression beyond his current rating of 87, still largely unexposed.

Last year at York, the son of Advertise was able to finish fourth in a competitive handicap to subsequent Group Two winner James's Delight, now rated 108, with now 106-rated Listed winner Elmonjed in third. He was sent off at odds of 66/167.00 that day when able to outrun his odds in the 6f handicap on the Knavesmire, shaping with plenty of promise from a mark of 82.

Only 5lb higher than that effort here, up 7lb for his comfortable latest win over Gressington, Media Shooter could still be ahead of his rating. There's substance to some of his form and he's a likeable performer who makes each-way appeal at a price of 40/141.00.

Dundalk, 17:55 - Back Flaming Rib @ 13/27.50

Equipped with first-time cheekpieces, likeable gelding Flaming Rib could finally return to the winners' enclosure for the first time since his Doha success in early 2023.

He hasn't been able to seriously threaten in races since his previous success, but shaped with promise when a 14/115.00 fourth over this course-and-distance recently, suggesting another win may not be too far in the future.

Now trained by Ado McGuinnes, having left the Hugo Palmer yard earlier this year, the six-year-old makes his 33rd career start, only his third for his new stable. He appears well treated at the weights from a falling mark, now rated 83 having once been rated as highly as 113 when lining up in the July Cup Stakes as a three-year-old.

During his debut campaign, the son of Ribchester achieved Listed success for Tom Dascombe before going close in the Commonwealth Cup Stakes for Palmer, as well as being narrowly denied in the Sandy Lane Stakes. He also finished a creditable fourth in the Betfair Sprint Cup during his second season, shaping with great promise as a sprinter.

Whilst he may be past his best, Flaming Rib still has ability as he showed when last seen. This could be the perfect opportunity for him to strike Shane Foley and return to winning ways by recording an eighth career success, a first on an all-weather surface.

Kempton, 18:10 - Back Ancient Wisdom @ 9/43.25

Godolphin representative Ancient Wisdom has 4lb to find on ratings with favourite Dubai Honour, but is 7lb better off at the weights and makes the most appeal in this contest on all-weather debut.

His brother Intricacy achieved form figures of 212 on an all-weather surface and the pair are also related to other all-weather winners such as Luck, who was once narrowly beaten in a Santa Anita Grade One.

The four-year-old son of Dubawi, who was purchased for €2,000,000 as a yearling, won both of his first two starts as a juvenile, including a Newmarket success over subsequent Group One winner Never So Brave when sent off as the warm 1/61.17 favourite on the July Course, before placing third to Rosallion in his first Stakes appearance in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot. He achieved Group Three success in the Autumn Stakes on his subsequent start, before landing the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in heavy ground which appeared to suit.

With an exaggerated knee action, Ancient Wisdom has always shaped as though testing ground is most suitable to him. Despite this, he did emerge with great credit from a good ground Gordon Richards Stakes earlier in the year when beaten only half-a-length by Al Aasy at odds of 12/113.00.

A try on the all-weather could spark some improvement from this likeable performer who has struggled to win this year. He was narrowly denied by surprising winner Naqeeb on his penultimate start at Goodwood, and couldn't land a blow on Hamish at Newbury when last seen, but remains a horse with great ability on his day.

This could be the perfect opportunity for him to return to the winners' enclosure for Charlie Appleby. He is better off at the weights than Dubai Honour and should pose a considerable threat under the in-form Billy Loughnane, who has a 47 percent strike-rate for the yard this year.

Now read Sam Turner's latest tips here!