A terrific weekend of National Hunt sport once more, with Kempton putting on a fantastic card filled with variety and their highlight being the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle. Warwick also have one of their strongest cards of the year, with the Neptune Investment Novices Hurdle (Grade 2) being their showpiece, with the race being seen as a stepping stone to one of the novice races at the Cheltenham Festival.
A horse whom I have followed her progress for the last couple of months now is SWINCOMBE FLAME for the Nick Williams yard, who has had some very good success since switching hurdling. After winning two bumpers, one of which was a listed race at Sandown. Two wins and a second in three starts over hurdles, the mare has a lot of class about her, and got a good ride last time out under Will Kennedy, who retains the ride here once more. She is stepped up in trip to 2 miles 5 furlongs, over a was tipped up distance where she has the potential to thrive. The mare looks to be well treated, and the same connections won this race last year as well, so know what it takes to win a race of this calibre.
Emma Lavelle has treated followers of the column well in the last couple of months, and she has two more fancies, both running at Warwick. The first of note is HIGHLAND LODGE, who was tipped up last time out in a Haydock Novice Hurdle, and won in convincing manner, beating two subsequent winners, with some nice form in the book. The gelding now has two wins from two starts after winning a point to point in Ireland last spring. The well bred son of Flemensfirth has a tough race at this hands here, but given the manner of his previous victories, he could be very special. Cotton Mill and Barbatos look to be the most dangerous challenger of the field, in what looks like a relatively strong renewal.
Her other leading fancy comes in the last race on the card, the bumper, where LE BEC looks a very intruiging prospect. The yard has a 13% strike rate in NHF races, however a +£12.00 profit to a £1 stake, looks a fair better statistic for a yard who often slip under the radar, which bodes well in terms of value. At Warwick in bumpers, the yard is 1-2-5 from Warwick bumpers, and with no serious entries from suitors Nicholls, Henderson and Hobbs, he should give a good account of himself.
MONARCHS WAY was successfully tipped up last time out, and battled well when seemingly struggling with the Taunton undulations, as well as getting hampered three furlongs out. His neck winning margin means he is very well treated on his second run in handicap company. The form hasn't worked too well, but this beautifully bred gelding will surely have more to come for a training outfit going places, and with stable jockey Jack Quinlan having a tremendous record with 14 wins from 33 starts for the stable, and an impressive £30.98 profit to a £1 level stake.
EDUCATED EVANS looks to have the ability of a staying chaser in the making, with two terrific wins in good company at Newbury and an even more impressive win at Chepstow, being punted off the boards, before routing a field of eight runners by twenty two lengths on good ground in the stick South Wales track. The handicapper has raised him accordingly, but that might not be enough, and given how well the form has worked out, he should have a good chance with the third, fourth and fifth all coming out and winning, and the second and sixth finishing second, absolutely franked.
12.50 Warwick - Monarchs Way
14.00 Warwick - Educated Evans
15.05 Warwick - Highland Lodge
16.10 Warwick - Le Bec
15.20 Kemtpon - Swincombe Flame
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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