The Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton represents one of the final preparatory races ahead of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Multiple Festival hopefuls put their hopes on the line, and GG tipster Joe Napier previews the Kingwell quartet’s chances.
The 2024 renewal went to the favourite as Nemean Lion held off his four rivals – he would finish sixth in the Champion Hurdle three weeks later.
BURDETT ROAD
(James Owen/Sam Twiston-Davies)
Arguably the best dual purpose horse in Britain and Ireland, Burdett Road claimed Listed honours on the flat in September, maintaining his form from his juvenile hurdling season. A Grade 2 winner last term, he was put in his place by Sir Gino as a four-year-old, but has developed again this season to take very high rank among British-trained hurdlers.
Off a mark of 133, he was a game, front-running winner of the Greatwood Hurdle before one of the best efforts of his career, going down by just nine lengths in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle behind Constitution Hill. He was still within touching distance when making a mess of the final flight that day, so rates the one to beat in this company.
GOLDEN ACE
(Jeremy Scott/Lorcan Williams)
The one Cheltenham Festival winner in the line-up, Golden Ace has disappointed since, especially given how the 2024 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle has worked out. It may have been that she has been campaigned over the wrong trip, having run over 2m3½f and 2m4½f in Grade 2s this season and finishing behind Lucky Place on both occasions.
The step back to the minimum trip may be exactly what she needs and she has always been ground versatile. She still carries a penalty, but is more favoured by this race’s conditions than any she has encountered since last season. She has to bounce back, but has to be respected given how this race should suit.
BRENTFORD HOPE
(Harry Derham/Paul O’Brien)
Brentford Hope did finish one place closer to Constitution Hill at Cheltenham than Burdett Road had at Kempton, but the similarities between the pair’s performances end there. But for the great champion’s final flight error, the margin would have been much wider than three lengths; Brentford Hope was only two lengths ahead of the 125-rated Spirits Bat off level weights too.
He ran well enough here earlier in the season behind Rubaud and he receives 4lb from his fellow males, while only conceding the same amount to Golden Ace. That still leaves him something to find based on his overall profile though.
HANSARD
(Gary & Josh Moore/Niall Houlihan)
It can only be said of one of Hansard’s nine career hurdles starts that he has distinctly underwhelmed, but the Moores’ seven-year-old has consistently performed to a decent standard since his novice days. He was, the year before Brentford Hope, second to Rubaud in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle, but won the Gerry Fielden handicap at Newbury thereafter.
Since then, he has only lost by a combined 15 lengths across three hurdles starts off marks in the low 140s. In a traditional Grade 2 he would look outclassed, especially conceding weight to two of his three rivals, but he might show up for a long way here and is not entirely dismissed.
VERDICT
A case could be made that BURDETT ROAD has each-way claims in the Champion Hurdle, which cannot be said of any of his rivals on current form. Just like his flat form, his hurdles efforts are trending upwards and he should be able to claim this even if there is a renaissance from one of his opposing trio. The likeliest danger is Golden Ace, who should improve on this season’s efforts back at this trip, with Hansard preferred to Brentford Hope of the remaining pair.
- Burdett Road
- Golden Ace
- Hansard
