Lanzarote Hurdle Preview: Probably the best trainer in the world

The Unibet Lanzarote Hurdle, which takes place at Kempton on Saturday, is often won by classy hurdlers who go on to bigger and better things. Three of the last five winners carried over 11 stone, including two top-weights, with the rollcall of winners including the likes of Saphir du Rheu (2014), Tea For Two (2015) and Yala Enki (2016).

Take note of jockey bookings

The two horses that carried top-weight to victory were claimer-ridden, so the likes of Mr Antolini and Pacific de Baune are respected, especially if conditional jockeys such as Jordan Nailor or Alan Doyle are employed, while the Paul Nicholls-trained Darling Maltaix was a hugely impressive winner when beating Milrow by four lengths under Lorcan Williams at Ascot last month; a 12 lb rise makes life tough, for all that the horse is unexposed over this trip.

One trainer to concentrate on, though, could be a former protégé of Nicholls: Dan Skelton, who has had three runners in the Lanzarote Hurdle, with two placed. Like Minded was third in 2014, while Spiritofthegames was runner-up to William Henry last year. The only horse who didn’t fare well was Sam Red, who was down the field in 2017, though he was having his first start for the yard since leaving Alan Fleming and has subsequently done most of his racing over further. Indeed, Sam Red provided the yard with their 100^th winner of the campaign when winning over 25f at Cheltenham in October.

In the spirit of things

Spiritofthegames is owned by Norman Lake, who – along with Susan Carsberg – owns New Quay, a six-year-old who had a breathing operation prior to his reappearance win at Ascot (19f, by 10 lengths from It's Got Legs) in November. He possibly found the race coming too soon when last of six to French Crusader dropped to two miles at Newbury just five days later, and wasn’t knocked about at all in the closing stages. The Timeform reporter noted: “A small field over 2m is hardly likely to prove his thing either, all in all well worth another chance, even from his revised mark.” With the step up in trip here in his favour, New Quay remains with plenty of potential.

A cold & frosty morning at Lodge Hill. Beakstown & @harryskelton89 lead New Quay (far side) & Destrier up the hill second lot #TeamSkelton pic.twitter.com/viQ45F8EMo

— Dan Skelton Racing (@DSkeltonRacing) January 4, 2019

Stablemate Solomon Grey is also of interest. Though as of yet unproven over further than two miles, he looked in need of a longer trip when last of seven at Doncaster on his reappearance, and his pedigree suggests this distance will be within range; he’s a half-brother to three winners, including Amore Alato (2m-3m winner), while his dam won up to 21f. To boot, his third to If The Cap Fits at this track in December 2017 makes him potentially very well treated off this BHA mark of 131, which, after all, is only 1 lb higher than his Market Rasen win last February.

Family affair

Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have won the race three times apiece, as has Nick Williams. The last-named officially has no runner this year, but the family still have another leading candidate this time around in Erick le Rouge, trained by Nick’s wife Jane and ridden by their son Chester Williams. He won handicaps at Bangor in October and Warwick (conditional riders’ event, by 18 lengths from Cogburn) in November, and completed a hat-trick in a 14-runner handicap over C&D (by three quarters of a length from Mellow Ben) on Boxing Day. Mellow Ben has a 2 lb swing in the weights here, but doesn’t have as attractive a profile.

Progressive pair

On that subject, the progressive pair of Kloud Gate and Star of Lanka enter calculations. The former was useful on the Flat and is approaching that level in this sphere, with his recent wins including a handicap at Leicester and a novice handicap at Doncaster last time.

Kloud Gate (4-6F) makes winning debut in handicap hurdles @LeicesterRaces having been highly tried in big flat handicaps during the summer.
It's yet another winner this season for Gary and Jamie Moore.
Results  👉👉 https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/qA05AuKqDg

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 6, 2018

He’s 12 lb higher here, but is open to further improvement. Star of Lanka has a pair of Hereford novices to his name, not needing to improve to win last time but showing a good attitude to edge the verdict close home. The runner-up Geordie B has franked the form since, winning at Lingfield in good style, but a BHA mark of 130 may be high enough at first glance.

In contrast, Cotswold Way has already transferred his winning run from maiden/novice hurdles to handicaps, making light of a mark of 127 when winning comfortably at Leicester last month. He’s clearly on an upward curve, but this race will be a totally different experience to those three small-field contests.

Unexposed handicappers

Though stepping up in grade, another strong showing from Canyon City would come as no surprise, but he, along with the likes of the more established handicappers Sleep Easy and Lord Napier, lack the scope of the novices Minella Warrior and Doux Pretender.

Minella Warrior outstays the opposition to take today's opening contest in good style under David Bass, for @kimbaileyracing pic.twitter.com/tQduOQqwks

— Warwick Racecourse (@WarwickRaces) May 12, 2018

Both had winning runs ended when stepping into Graded company when last seen, but the former has been given a 90-day break to get over whatever hampered his effort that day, while the latter is dropped back in trip here. He was possibly stretched by the increased emphasis on stamina last time, though wasn’t well positioned when the tempo lifted, either.

Both remain capable of better, as does Better Getalong, who made a positive start to a season of handicapping when second to Ballymoy at Haydock last time; he hasn't yet shown all of his stamina, though softer ground than is forecast would probably suit more.

Conclusion

Minella Warrior, Doux Pretender and Erick le Rouge are all lightly-raced horses going places, but New Quay looked the sort who should have plenty more to offer despite finishing last at Newbury when last seen. The novice handicap he won on reappearance looks solid form, and the step back up in trip and larger field here should play to his strengths; he’s worth backing at 12/1. A second bet on his well handicapped stablemate Solomon Grey at 20/1 is also recommended; he’s likely to step up significantly on his reappearance now upped in trip.

Recommended bets:

Back New Quay to win Saturday’s Lanzarote Hurdle at 12/1

Back Solomon Grey to win Saturday’s Lanzarote Hurdle at 20/1