A Lanzarote winter warmer – Saturday’s tips

It may be a new year but some things never change: a Nicky Henderson treble at Southwell as the Nottinghamshire track staged an innovative all weather bumper card on Wednesday, Paul Nicholls’ horses being overbet and exploited by cunning bookmakers (have a look at Fistral Beach at Kempton on Saturday for a prime example!), a mass exodus of the racing fraternity to Barbados at this time of year, and Lord Culcheth, who regular readers will know is a permanent disaster waiting to happen, and has now been laid low by a cougar related virus.

But praise be! We’ve finally got a break in the weather and some decent turf action to get stuck into, and not before time…..it’s seemed like an eternity, so make up for it by having a few quid on top weight Duc De Regniere in the williamhill.com Lanzarote Hurdle (2.45pm Kempton).

The class horse in the race he shoulders top weight for a reason, but Nicky Henderson has wisely opted to give the very capable David Bass the leg up, with the added attraction of a 7lb claim.

Although he might be just a whisker short of top class over hurdles he is very good on his day, and with that valuable 7lbs improving his chances further he has a real each way chance from the top of the handicap, given he’s won on all three occasions he’s made the trip to Kempton, and is guaranteed to stay every inch of the 2m 5f trip.

Mixing hurdling with chasing of late his figures would be even more impressive if he hadn’t run into the likes of Punchestowns and Big Buck’s, but his third to the latter in Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle last time up was an excellent effort, and he’ll find this a lot easier on ground that shouldn’t inconvenience him.

Henderson also saddles favourite Tasheba, and he’ll attract plenty of attention given he’s the mount of Barry Geraghty and won on very testing ground at Sandwn before Christmas, but I wonder if he’s really done enough to merit a mark just 4lbs shy of his stablemate given that his pre-Sandown form was in and out, and I far prefer Duc De Regniere at twice the price.

Naturally for a race of this calibre there’s a stack of them in with chances, but if there is a danger lurking down the weights it could be the unexposed Mighty Moon, who hasn’t run since appearing on the Flat in the spring, but has plenty of speed, comes from a yard that more than knows the time of day, will love the ground and should stay the trip standing on his head.

On the same card a little earlier on have a look at Gary Moore’s Reblis in the Novices’ Handicap Chase at 2.05pm.

A narrow second on both his tries over fences so far this fella is beginning to climb the weights, but now has the assistance of Moore’s son Joshua, also benefitting from a 7lb allowance, to do the steering.

Only a five year old this Assessor gelding looks certain to win races, and this weak looking contest could be the ideal place to start.

Good luck!

Saturday’s Kempton tips:

2.05 – William Hill – 0800 44 40 40 Novices’ Handicap Chase – 6 Reblis (win) @ 100/30 (Stan James)

2.45 – williamhill.com Lanzarote Hurdle (H’Cap) – 1 Duc De Reniere (each way) @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes)