Tom Cannon looking to strike gold again for Joe Tizzard after a 50/1 winner

Warwick 12:40 - Non Stop

In Warwick’s opener, Non Stop gets a major allowance for being a 4-year-old against older rivals, it means we’re getting over a stone from the top weight, although we’re only rated 3 pounds lower. He’s won around this course and distance, and although heavy ground is a slight unknown for him, if he can handle it, I’d be hopeful he’s well in enough at these weights to go close. Tom Cannon rides, as he has been a fair bit for us recently, when Brendan [Powell] is elsewhere, and he rode a 50/1 winner for us last weekend, which was a nice surprise! 

Kempton 14:40 – Scarface

We’ll find out here whether or not Scarface is as well-handicapped as I hope he is, but the race will certainly suit, as a big field Coral Lanzarote will be run at a good pace, and he shouldn’t have to do all his own work in front, as he did in a small field at Ascot last time, and he still managed to win that day.

We know he handles the ground, the trip is right for him, and he’s in good form, so he ticks a lot of boxes. He’s also a stronger horse this year than last, so Brendan can drop him in, and have the leaders to aim at off a strong pace. He definitely has a chance at an each-way price. 

Kempton 15:15 - Slate House

Aged 11 now, Slate House may well prefer better ground as he’s got older, but the race has cut up a bit, and there aren’t too many options for him at the moment, so we’ll take our chance at a course he’s always run well at, including winning a Grade 1 as a novice.


Coral Lanzarote Hurdle preview with Lewis Knowles

One of the season’s most competitive handicaps, the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton has once again attracted a stellar turnout, with no less than 20 horses confirmed at Thursday’s final declaration stage.

A Charles Byrne-trained horse having just his second start in a handicap prompted traders to duck for cover as Green Glory was installed as the 5/1 favourite following the final declarations. There’s no doubt that he’ll need a big step forward on what he’s shown so far, but hailing from a very shrewd operation, he should certainly be monitored in the betting between now and Saturday afternoon.

Paul Nicholls’ horses have really hit top-gear over the last few weeks, and the unexposed Outlaw Peter looks to have a big chance of giving the team another big-race winner. He won a novice hurdle at Exeter back in November with any amount to spare, and an opening mark 130 could certainly underestimate him.

Dan Skelton is also no stranger to big-race Saturday winners, and his lightly-raced seven-year-old West Balboa could be open to any amount of improvement. She ran a cracker to finish second on her handicap debut at Sandown last time, and that was her first start for nearly a year, so she could take a big step forward for that outing.

Of the bigger priced horses in the field, the most interesting could be Paul Nicholls’ second-string Red Risk. He bounced back to form in impressive fashion at Newbury last time, and with Freddie Gingell’s claim negating his 6lb rise for that victory, he looks capable of making the frame at the very least.

LATEST CORAL LANZAROTE HURDLE ODDS HERE >

Three To Follow at Kempton

13:30 – Tile Tapper

Although the team haven’t had as many winners as they’d have liked, Chris Honour’s horses’ have been running very well in defeat of late, and Tile Tapper will hopefully reward them for that consistency come Saturday.

He arguably put up a career-best performance when second to Remastered here over the festive period, and if it wasn’t for a mistake 3 out, he could have finished closer to the winner that day. Chris Honour’s six-year-old is still very lightly raced, so off 1lb higher, he could go very close this weekend.

14:05 – Clondaw Castle

While he hasn’t been seen for 420 days, as a course-winner, and a horse with a good record fresh, there are plenty of reasons to suggest Clondaw Castle can run a big race in Saturday’s Garde 2 Silviniaco Chase. Tom George’s veteran chaser has performed admirably in some very hot races in the past, so in receipt of weight from the majority of the field, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he could go well at an each-way price.

15:50 – Kaleb

Kaleb certainly showed potential in bumpers, but there’s no doubting he’s taken his form to a new level since going hurdling. He got off the mark at the second time of asking over obstacles when winning nicely at Fakenham back in October, but he arguably bettered that form next time when a respectable fourth at Haydock behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Tahmuras.

Amy Murphy’s five-year-old now goes handicapping off a mark of 125, and if he can improve again for that last outing, then he could be the one to side with in our concluding contest.