12 Jun 2019
There is some decent Jumps action in Britain and we look at the pick of the TV racing from the cards at Warwick and Kempton, with the spotlight falling upon the Lanzarote Hurdle.
WARWICK
1.50 HAMPTON NOVICES’ CHASE (Listed)
There are just four runners lining up for this 3m novices’ chase, but it is a classy line-up. ROCKY’S TREASURE (Kim Bailey) has the best form on offer, having won four of five over fences, including a valuable Grade 2 at Doncaster last time. He bounced back from defeat by the well-regarded Santini at Newbury, making all and a win here would put him in line for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
OK CORRAL (Nicky Henderson) has always been regarded as a chaser, despite finishing second in the Albert Bartlett at last season’s Cheltenham Festival and he made a winning debut over fences at Plumpton. He was not helped by the slow pace and he was keen to get on with it, making one howling blunder, which seemed to wake him up. The RSA Chase is also on the agenda and he gets 5lb from Rocky’s Treasure.
SECRET INVESTOR (Paul Nicholls) will likely improve for his first try over fences, when second to Bags Grove in a Grade 2 at Wincanton over an inadequate 2m4f. This trip will suit and he has the potential to be very smart.
WHITE MOON (Colin Tizzard) got off the mark at the third time of asking over fences at Exeter, having been previously found wanting behind smart Dipper Novices’ Chase second and third Defi Du Seuil and Black Op at the same track on his second start. He fractured a pelvis a year ago, and may have had his confidence dented when coming down at the last on reappearance at Cheltenham in November, so is entitled to improve a bit.
2.25 LEAMINGTON NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
Seven line up for the 2m5f Grade 2, which looks to be something of a two-horse race, according to the market. BIRCHDALE (Nicky Henderson) looked a smart prospect when scoring on his Rules debut here, having been confidently ridden by Barry Geraghty. He did hang left when in front, but that was more through inexperience than anything.
TIDAL FLOW (Philip Hobbs) has won both his two hurdles outings, latterly defying a penalty to beat a useful sort in Downtown Getaway at Newbury. He knuckled down well to the task and the pair drew away for the rest, so the form looks solid and he should be a leading player.
STONEY MOUNTAIN (Henry Daly) scored easily at Southwell last time but this is a step up in class, and ROCKPOINT (Colin Tizzard) is already a Grade 2 winner, having won a weak-looking renewal of the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. That was over 3m, however, and this drop in trip is not certain to suit.
BEAKSTOWN (Dan Skelton) found the soft ground against him at Newcastle last time when failing to justify favouritism and is probably a bit better than he showed.
3.00 HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3)
The 3m5f handicap is as open a race as you could wish for. No less than 13 runners go to post for a valuable prize of £42,713 to the winner and Grand National clues abound. In 2017 this staying chase was won by subsequent Aintree hero One For Arthur.
Dual Cheltenham Festival winner UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (David Pipe) aims to give weight away, but is making just a second start back after a long absence and is probably best watched for the time being.
STEP BACK (Mark Bradstock) currently heads the market. Runaway winner of the race formerly known as the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown in April, he shouldered a stone more for his reappearance at Chepstow in October and looked in need of the run. He is entitled to come on a bit, and he has gone well fresh in the past.
CALETT MAD (Nigel Twiston-Davies) was a fine second in the Borders National at Kelso last month and while he has a 5lb rise to contend with, he is still only a 7yo and is still improving.
Stablemate COGRY was runner-up in this race last year off a mark of 138 and is now on a career-high mark of 142 following success in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham last month. He faces a tough task to back that up and DUEL AT DAWN (Alex Hales), who was runner-up in a Listed Novices’ Chase here last January, might be a better option. He has won one and been runner-up three times in six starts over fences and did not handle heavy ground on his seasonal bow at Haydock.
IBIS DU RHEU (Paul Nicholls) has yet to tackle this far, but he won over an extended 3m at Cheltenham in November. He is seen more of a Grand National type than an RSA Chase prospect. The downside is a strike-rate of 1-9 over fences.
IMPULSIVE STAR (Neil Mulholland) has yet to score over fences in five attempts, but was not beaten far in a decent novices’ chase at Plumpton last time and has fewer miles on the clock than 11yo stablemate CAROLE’S DESTRIER, who is 5-20 over fences. While he is back up 3lb, he stayed on well to score at Newbury over 3m2f last time and would appear to still be fairly well handicapped.
MILANSBAR (Neil King) took this race last year and while only 6lb higher, the ground might be a little too quick for this mudlark.
3.35 PERTEMPS NETWORK HANDICAP HURDLE
Another trappy contest to work out, with 10 expected to go to post, headed by FIRST ASSIGNMENT (Ian Williams), who won his first two starts this year, including when taking a Listed hurdle at Cheltenham by nine lengths. Despite being turned over by the highly progressive Paisley Park at Haydock last time, he was not beaten far in that Grade 3 contest and this 6yo takes a slight drop in grade. He looks the one to beat on recent form.
KEEPER HILL (Warren Greatrex) was a springer in the market on Friday and advertised his well-being when runner-up in a decent staying handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last time. That was his handicap debut off a mark of 136, and while up 3lb here, he has conditions to suit.
LUNGARNO PALACE (Fergal O’Brien) is trying this far for the first time, although he stayed nicely in defeat over 2m5f at Cheltenham on his last two runs, and he is preferred to BLAKLION (Nigel Twiston-Davies), who is a smart stayer on his day, but is likely using this race as a stepping stone to another tilt at the Grand National.
NOTWHATIAM (Dan Skelton) has been in excellent order since joining the yard following wind surgery and there was nothing wrong with his decent third at Aintree, just 13 days after winning at Uttoxeter.
KEMPTON PARK
2.05 CHASE (Listed)
Four of the last five winners of this extended 2m4f chase topped the betting market and CHARBEL (Kim Bailey) currently holds that spot following his eight-length destruction of God’s Own at Huntingdon. He previously gave a lot of weight to subsequent scorer Baron Alco on his seasonal return and would have got the measure of classy Politologue at Ascot had he jumped properly on his penultimate start. So he was not out of turn in winning in Graded company.
Should he win this, he will be a short price for the Ryanair Chase at the Festival in March, but he has twice fallen at Cheltenham, so any ante-post wagers come with an asterisk.
TOP NOTCH (Nicky Henderson) was not beaten far by Paisley Park in the Long Walk Hurdle at Haydock on his return from a 238-day break, and that should have put him spot on for a return to fences. He is a high-class eight-year-old who took a Grade 2 chase at Sandown in April and is very much on the short-list.
BLACK CORTON (Paul Nicholls) is a classy starter who won the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot last February, but this trip looks on the sharp side and he is vulnerable against the first two named. SPEREDEK (Nigel Hawke) would be a threat if allowed an easy lead, while HAMMERSLY LAKE (Charlie Longsdon) has plenty to find with Charbel on their run at Huntingdon and is readily opposed.
2.40 LANZAROTE HURDLE (Listed)
Always an ultra-competitive 2m5f handicap hurdle, this year’s renewal looks up to snuff, but worth noting that it has not been a particularly good race for favourites, with just two successful in the last 10 years.
KLOUD GATE (Gary Moore) is the ante-post favourite, having won his first two starts in handicaps with plenty to spare. He has been hiked up 12lb since scoring at Doncaster last time, but is highly progressive and it would not be a shock to see him rattle up the hat-trick.
LORD NAPIER (Peter Bowen) has won three of his eight starts over hurdles and he was not beaten far at Wincanton and Ascot in his last two runs last month over extended 1m7f trips. This step back up in trip might work the oracle, as he was run off his feet at a vital stage last time.
DARLING MALTAIX (Paul Nicholls) got off the mark over hurdles at the tenth attempt last time at Ascot and suffered a 12lb rise as a result. It seems harsh, but the manner of the four-length success over Milrow demands the handicapper takes a firm view.
DOUX PRETENDER (Nicky Henderson) was well fancied for the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but was beaten seven lengths by Rockpoint and hung a bit in the closing stages. That may have been through tiredness over a 3m trip and back down in distance here, the 6yo looks on a fair mark of 134 for his handicap bow and is on the short-list.
SOLOMON GREY (Dan Skelton) ran as though he would come on a lot when trounced on his Doncaster reappearance. He looked a big improver as last season wore on, and signed off with a win in a decent handicap at Market Rasen in March. The Skelton yard remains in good form, with a 23 per cent strike rate in the last couple of weeks.
AND THE NEW (Johnny Farrelly) can be given a chance on his fair second to Lisp at Fontwell in November and has undergone wind surgery since, while COTSWOLD WAY (Philip Hobbs) is on a four-timer, having won at Huntingdon, Exeter and Leicester. This represents a step up in class, but the 6yo is clearly on the rise.
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