Aidan Coleman had a surprising setback yesterday when learning, two weeks after the event, that he was suspected of breaching the whip rules when winning the Welsh National. The odds are he will get a suspension when the stewards get round to considering the matter but he can make hay in the meantime by landing the Lanzarote Hurdle aboard Warrantor (Kempton, 2.40).
Cheaply bought last spring, despite being a recent Irish point winner, this horse became part of the team that has raised the profile of the Lambourn trainer Warren Greatrex over the past year. Warrantor won a bumper the month after his sale and comes here as the winner of two of his three outings over hurdles.
He was especially impressive under a penalty last time at Market Rasen, powering clear despite a novicey effort at the last. The extra distance here should help, on that evidence, and a testing surface appears to suit. The runner-up that day, beaten six lengths, won on his previous start and again when next seen.
On the available evidence Warrantor looks well treated for his handicap debut, even though this is by far the most talented line-up he has faced. He makes most appeal at the 11-2 available last evening.
The balance of Tea For Two’s form suggests he is not best suited by really deep going, a concern which also applies to Hammersly Lake.
1.55 Warwick The step up to three miles should help Deputy Dan but for now he looks a bit disappointing over fences. From the Alan King yard that does so well at this track Sego Success is taken to build on his Wetherby performance, when he edged out a subsequent winner, the pair having pulled clear.
2.10 Kempton It was interesting to see Hunt Ball bounce back to something like his old form on New Year’s Day. Still Balder Succes is the safer option. He won three on the bounce, including a Grade One, at around this time last year and the step back up in distance should suit.
2.25 Warwick It is 200 days since we saw Top Wood but he won a similar race last February on his first outing for 13 months and is only 6lb higher this time. Very soft going appears to suit.
3.00 Warwick Shantou Bob will be the clear favourite but there is no arguing with the strength of his form. His first defeat came last time when he was stepped up to Grade Two company and even then he went down by only a nose and would have won in another stride. The third has since won, while the winner was beaten a neck in a Grade One. There are a few with potential in this field but much less needs to be taken on trust with Shantou Bob.
3.15 Kempton Chartreux was in great form when last seen in late spring but it is asking a lot for him to win this off a career high mark on such a testing surface. It may be better to side with Masters Hill, who has had his problems but put in a career best when beaten a length at Newbury last time, ahead of Easter Day and Walkon. The grey’s mark has been left where it was before that run.
3.35 Warwick The Welsh National was rather a damp squib for Shotgun Paddy, who walked through the second fence and lost so much ground that he was pulled up by the seventh. That race has always been hard to win under a big weight in any case but the same is not true of this one. He won this by daylight last year and must have a fine chance of doing so again on a mark only 2lb higher. Rigadin De Beauchene is capable of winning a race like this on his reappearance, though he has a stiff mark these days. Hawkes Point is on a fair mark if the first-time blinkers revive his enthusiasm.
