It’s an action-packed Saturday afternoon in prospect at Kempton Park as they stage their Lanzarote Hurdle Card.
The meeting has been bolstered in picking up a race from the abandoned New Year’s Day fixture at Cheltenham – the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. Alongside the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase it ensures some top-quality stuff on Kempton’s eight-race card (12.05pm-3.57pm).
Watch all the action via live streaming when logged into MansionBet and read below as our tipster has selections for all the Kempton action.
12.05 – Watch Racing Free Online At Ladbrokes Juvenile Hurdle (2m)
An easy winner at Southwell in September, Bannister sets the standard and has twice run strongly in France since. He should go well but there are dangers lurking. Kentucky Hardboot and Tinnahalla have shown enough to warrant place claims but newcomers TABLE MOUNTAIN and Sage Advice may have plenty to offer. Any strong support for the new Richard Newland inmate commands attention but the ex-Irish filly was rated 91 on the Flat for Andrew Balding and is with an in-form Tom Symonds stable starting out in this code.
Selection: Table Mountain @ 5/2
12.35 – Play Ladbrokes 1-2-Free On Football Novices’ Hurdle (3m½f)
A cracking race in prospect with the top three on the card all interesting and accustomed to winning. Bobhopeornohope is unbeaten in two over timber and can progress plenty while Undersupervision made a winning debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies at Hereford last month having taken his sole Irish point-to-point. BARBADOS BUCK’S is the one to appeal most though for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He won cheekily at Southwell in November and then backed it up last month back there when asked to scrap, sticking his neck and looking like he relished the battle. More to come from him.
Selection: Barbados Buck’s @ 11/4
1.10 – Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap Chase (2m4½f)
Lots of plausible answers to this tough puzzle. Evander has scope for better after a comfortable Doncaster success while Smarty Wild is another that can come forward. A TOI PHIL is a speculative shout on only his second outing for Gary Moore. He was often campaigned over further in Ireland but this might be his optimal trip. He ran well in a Grade 2 at Newbury in February after a layoff and with Niall Houlihan taking off 7lb, he isn’t badly treated.
Selection: A Toi Phil @ 12/1
1.45 – Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Chase (3m)
Former Cheltenham Festival winner Coo Star Sivola lurks on a dangerous mark, while Glen Forsa is well worth trying back up in trip and could thrive for it. However, TWO FOR GOLD was progressive last season and made a good start back (second) at Wetherby in October. The Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury all proved a bit much since but this could see him back on an upward curve.
Selection: Two For Gold @ 5/1
2.20 – Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m5f)
Re-routed here from Cheltenham, this Grade 2 looks well up to scratch. Last year’s winner Summerville Boy will attempt to confirm recent supremacy over the likes of Thomas Darby and Call Me Lord and may do so, while Younevercall loves it around here and cannot be overlooked in haste.
Persian War winner MCFABULOUS also has good memories of this venue (easy graded novice winner last season) and his Newbury third last time in this grade was no shame, tacking three-miles for the first time and finding only Thyme Hill and Paisley Park too strong (since scrapped out an Ascot Grade 1 together). The Nicholls horse may yet have a future over further but, for now, this looks a good stopping point.
Selection: McFabulous @ 6/5
2.55 – Ladbrokes Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2, 2m4½f)
IMPERIAL AURA is an exciting second-season chaser and trainer Kim Bailey is optimistic he can continue his progress with a second Grade 2 victory following his 1965 Chase win at Ascot (2m5f, soft) in November. He’s gone about his work impressively this term and the Cheltenham Festival-winning novice is firmly on the up. Master Tommytucker’s frailties will be less exposed in a small field (possibly) while Riders Onthe Storm needs to forget a tame comeback in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November. Clondaw Castle is very consistent and will gladly feast on any scraps going.
Selection: Imperial Aura @ 4/5
3.30 – Ladbrokes Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Listed, 2m5f)
Everglow and One True King are exciting novices with definite prospects for Philip Hobbs and Nigel Twiston-Davies respectively, though this will further test their maturity. Glynn is unexposed for a trainer with an excellent record in this, while Solo was a graded winner over 2m here last season for another top yard that does well in this contest. He goes up in trip and may be overpriced. Fergal O’Brien’s team are flying and POLISH might be up to enhancing the excellent fortunes of six-year-olds in the Lanzarote recently. He needs to hurdle a bit more fluently but that’s entirely possible and Conor Brace takes off a handy 3lb leaving him on a feasible mark.
Selection: Polish @ 16/1
3.57 – Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Chti Balko and Fransham come into this in winning form and are greatly respected despite their respective rises in the ratings. One that might be under the radar is MANUCCI on his first start for Tim Vaughan. He had some promising form last term, including a hurdles win and placed efforts behind Goshen and Grand Roi. He won the all-weather in October before joining this yard and, having missed an engagement last Saturday at Musselburgh is a live contender to defy a mark of 124.
Selection: Manucci @ 14/1
*All odds correct at time of writing