Watch your bets, as they say, in this year’s Listed Unibet Lanzarote Hurdle with Burrows Park and Burrows Edge among the 14 declared runners at Kempton.
Contested over 2m5f at Kempton, The Unibet Lanzarote Hurdle is often won by classy jumpers who go on to bigger and better things. Four of the last six winners carried more than 11st, not including rider’s allowances, with past winners including useful chasers Saphir du Rheu, Tea For Two and Yala Enki.
The raced is named in memory of the mighty Lanzarote, winner of the Champion Hurdle in 1974. It was was first run in 1978, originally over 2m. The distance was changed to 2m5f in 2007 and it has been run at Kempton every year since its inception, apart from one brief interlude at Carlisle in 2006.
Lanzarote Hurdle Recent Winners
| Year | Winner Age and Weight | Jockey/Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Big Time Dancer 6yo 11-01 |
Jonjo ONeill Jr Jennie Candlish |
16/1 |
| 2018 | William Henry 8yo 11-12 |
James Bowen Nicky Henderson |
7/1 |
| 2017 | Modus 7yo 11-4 |
Barry Geraghty Paul Nicholls |
7/1 |
| 2016 | Yala Enki 6yo 10-3 |
Charlie Deutsch Venetia Williams |
11/4 |
| 2015 | Tea For Two 6yo 10-5 |
Lizzie Kelly Nick Williams |
9/2 |
| 2014 | Saphir Du Rheu 5yo 11-12 |
Harry Derham Paul Nicholls |
6/1 |
| 2013 | Oscara Dara 8yo 11-0 |
Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson |
5/1 |
| 2012 | Swincombe Flame 6yo 10-4 |
William Kennedy Nick Williams |
9/2 |
| 2011 | James De Vassy 6yo 11-2 |
William Kennedy Nick Williams |
8/1 |
| 2010 | Micheal Flips 6yo 10-11 |
Nick Scholfield Andy Turnell |
9/1 |
Horse Racing Betting at Unibet
Lanzarote Hurdle Trends
- Kempton is a sharp track and this is not a race for stayers but those stepping up from 2m do well.
- None of the last 38 runners aged nine or older have managed to win.
- Most recent winners had scored at least twice previously.
- Most recent winners had contested a Class 1 contest at some stage of their career.
- Only one winner since 2000 started at bigger odds than 12/1.
Barry Geraghty has been on the winner in two of the last seven years and he’ll be wearing the familiar McManus colours on Notre Pari.
Olly Murphy’s novice has only run four times under NH Rules. He coasted to victory upped in distance on his handicap debut at Aintree so you can understand why he’s attracted market support for this, despite an 8lb rise in the weights. Improvement will be required to double up in the Lanzarote Hurdle but should be forthcoming and he’s available at 10/3 with William Hill.
Nicky Henderson’s runners in this race are always to be respected and Burrows Edge has a similar profile to that of the 2018 winner William Henry in that he’s quickly back over hurdles having failed to take to fences. Placed twice over 2m5f in handicaps at Kempton early last year, he looks a solid each-way investment at a general 13/2 but it’s more difficult to recommend stablemate Theinval (a best 20/1) even though the latter is potentially well treated on his chase form.
Burrows Park (a general 10/1) battled well to land the spoils at Hereford ahead of a consistent sort but a 5lb rise may have tipped him over the edge in this more competitive affair. Maiden winner Northofthewall (13/2 with William Hill) has already been beaten off lower marks in handicaps but Echiquier turned in a shocker last time at Southwell with Nigel Twiston-Davies at a loss to explain his gelding’s performance.
Given the penchant for prospective chasers to emerge from this contest in recent years, it must be worth giving LARKBARROW LAD a second glance.
Second over 3m on the exact same Kempton card 12 months ago, the strapping seven-year-old didn’t quite get home that day but his novice form was very solid. He won subsequently over 2m4f at Southwell and again at Worcester in October after which he underwent wind surgery and was put in storage to wait for better ground. The going has dried up enough for him to take his chance at Kempton and he may have too much pace for these in the closing stages if Tom O’Brien can keep him covered up among horses on the final circuit.
Unibet Lanzarote Hurdle Current Best Odds
Notre Pari 10/3, Burrows Edge and Northofthewall 13/2, Larkbarrow Lad 15/2, Burrows Park 10/1, Tight Call 11/1, Vive Le Roi 12/1, Debestyman and Echiquier 16/1, Theinval 20/1, Vinnie Dev 22/1, Canyon City and Gortroe Joe 25/1, Eragon De Chanay 33/1
(Odds correct at 11.15am January 10)
