DOUBLE HANDFUL

IT’S hard to remember a renewal of the Lanzarote Hurdle ever being as competitive as today’s race. At my age, though, it’s increasingly hard to remember anything. On the flip side, at least I have a clear conscience.

Six of this afternoon’s 16 runners are priced between 6-1 and 8s and, given that the last six winners of have all been 7-1 or shorter, there’s a decent chance the winner will emerge from this group.

If the past is anything to go by, and it has gone by very quickly, then up-andcoming hurdlers are the horses that enjoy the most success in the Lanzarote — The likes of Oscara Dara, Saphir Du Rheu, Tea For Two and Modus being such examples.

Paul Nicholls is a man you have to respect in this contest, certainly more than any of the other Canary Islands. The Ditcheat handler has won this race three times in the past nine runnings and has only one runner today, TOPOFTHEGAME.

Big and rangy he looks every inch a chaser and was popular in the betting ring at Newbury in November when making his debut over fences. He fell five from home but was travelling smoothly at the time. I’m sure he’ll be back over the bigger obstacles in due course — at just six years of age he has time on his side. He still looks very smartly handicapped here running off just 139 and looks the one to beat. Alan King’s River Frost is also just six years old and is unbeaten at the Sunbury track. He’s almost a stone higher in the weights than when winning a year ago at Kempton and may come up short as a result. Expect a good showing from Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old Diese Des Bieffes. A creditable run at Kempton on Boxing Day behind the smart If The Cap Fits showcased his potential. Nick Williams, another trainer with a fine record in this race with three wins in the last seven years, has solid place claims with Dentley De Mee at 20-1.