Though possibly in doubt due to the weather, the Lanzarote Hurdle has attracted a 20-strong field for a hugely competitive handicap on Saturday. With Kempton attempting to beat the frost, Joe Napier previews the race with his verdict.
Dan Skelton claimed a number of big handicap prizes last season, but Jay Jay Reilly was one of the most surprising, winning the 2024 Lanzarote Hurdle at 33/1.
IMPOSE TOI
(Nicky Henderson/James Bowen)
Rarely will you find a horse of Nicky Henderson’s finishing in the first three on his first eight starts and yet still be readily available at generous odds in a handicap. Impose Toi has been supremely consistent in his career to date, winning four of those eight races, including last time out at Newbury on his return.
He is up 7lb to a mark of 141, but he has handicap form of 1231 since starting out off a mark of just 121 at Cheltenham last November. He could easily have plenty of progression left in him too, as he jumped poorly on his return, though that was also the case when fluffing his lines in third in this a year ago. This deeper field will ensure he is held to account, but on pure ability he has to enter calculations.
BEAT THE BAT
(Harry Fry/Bryan Carver)
Another consistent and unexposed type, Beat The Bat ran in some high class maiden and novice hurdles events last season without touching Graded races, as he missed the second half of last season. However, his seconds to Masaccio and Dysart Enos were significant efforts, while he returned from 344 days off the track at Haydock most recently with another gallant runner-up finish.
That form has a decent amount of substance to it, and a further step up in distance to this trip could also suit, but a 3lb rise for his three-length defeat may be on the steep side in a race which could well prove stronger than that Haydock event. This will be only his fifth hurdles race though, so he is respected with natural improvement to come.
JIPCOT
(Jonjo & A J O’Neill/Kielan Woods)
Thrown in at the deep end early in his career in Britain, Jipcot’s debut in the country for Ben Pauling saw him run in the 2023 Triumph Hurdle won by Lossiemouth. It was hardly a race he could have been expected to compete in, but he acquitted himself well, and is now a two-time handicap winner with more to come.
The six-year-old made a slow start after a change of yard, but having finished down the field in two races in Wales for the O’Neills, he bolted up at Newbury down to a mark of 121. That came on his first start after wind surgery, and over the furthest trip he has faces, so there can be plenty of optimism that more is in his locker here even off an 8lb higher mark. Soft ground does not faze him.
KNIGHT OF ALLEN
(Jane Williams/David Noonan)
Knight Of Allen was a half decent juvenile hurdler last term, but it has been an impressive beginning to the 2024/25 National Hunt season by him, and he shapes as though there is more to come. Making the step up to all-age handicaps, he was a promising third at Haydock, narrowly behind Beat The Bat, last time out.
Both have gone up the same amount in the handicap, while Knight Of Allen now loses his 1lb age allowance. However, he looks one who could have a little more to come over this sort of trip, as well as a couple of years on that rival. This assignment may still be too tough from a winning perspective, but he is respected.
THE FIELD
The Skelton yard defend their title with three runners, all of whom will have claimers aboard, with such jockeys winning six of the last ten renewals. Tristan Durrell won it last year and will take the mount on Punta Del Este, who has run well twice this campaign but looks handicapped to the hilt, though it is possible Santos Blue and Ben Bromley may form a more fearsome partnership than on return at Doncaster now they have that run under their belts. The 12-year-old West To The Bridge may face too many younger legs here though.
The other veteran Dans Le Vent ran a cracker at Wetherby on Boxing Day, but the drop back to 2m5f may not bring his stamina into play enough. Conversely, Spirit d’Aunou stepped up to this trip for the first time last time out and seemed to improve for it, as he may for the return to soft ground here.
Doddiethegreat was forced to pull up early after a disastrous start here over Christmas, but is on a tempting mark, and gets the boon of Nico De Boinville in the saddle. Only Aston Martini looks outclassed amongst the Henderson trio.
A final couple of mentions go to Plaisir De Flos, who has been in terrific form since March and cannot be ruled out each-way once again, while Georgi Girl contested a notably strong mares’ handicap last time out and otherwise looks progressive.
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VERDICT
After an impressive victory at Newbury on Challow Hurdle day, JIPCOT could still have lots in hand despite an 8lb rise. He appreciated every yard of 2m4½f that day, goes on soft ground, and should revel in this big-field scenario with a strong pace likely. Nicky Henderson’s team for this contest looks strong, with Doddiethegreat preferred to Impose Toi, as there is more leeway in his mark and the latter’s jumping will be put under real scrutiny here. Nevertheless, they are the two feared most, with Spirit d’Aunou, Georgi Girl and Santos Blue others to consider.
- Jipcot
- Doddiethegreat
- Impose Toi
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