PRIME BIEFFE
Des can be best man for Henderson in Lanzarote
DIESE DES BIEFFES is fancied to give Nicky Henderson a wedding present with a victory in the Lanzarote Hurdle (2.40) at Kempton.
Henderson will not be on duty at the Sunbury course – the Seven Barrows trainer is in Scotland for his marriage to long-term partner Sophie.
But Diese Des Bieffes can ensure the nuptials go with a swing by giving Henderson a third success – after Non So (2003) and Oscara Dara (2013) – in the race that honours the 1974 Champion Hurdle hero.
After novice hurdle scores at Fontwell and Taunton in November, the five-year-old grey took on the useful If The Cap Fits in the curtain-raiser to the King George card on Boxing Day.
My selection came off second best by five lengths but, having felt the pinch as the tempo quickened on the run to the home straight, Diese Des Bieffes kept on in the style of a horse who would appreciate a crack at this afternoon’s two-mile, five-furlong distance.
Diese Des Bieffes looks up to improving past his BHA rating of 135 and Henderson’s booking of rising star Mitch Bastyan, who claims a 5lb allowance, is another plus. Fountains Windfall will start favourite for the handicap chase (3.15) but has fallen on his last two outings, so preference is for the Sam Waley-Cohenpartnered THE YOUNG MASTER. Three-time top-level scorer GOD’S OWN (left) gets the vote for the Listed chase (2.05). On Warwick’s Classic Chase undercard, Seven Barrows representative MR WHIPPED should justify short odds and defend his unbeaten record in the Grade 2 novices’ hurdle (3.00). The point-to-point winner has shown much promise for the future in victories at Kempton and Newbury and there is more to come. THE ORGANIST Also at Warwick, is attractively weighted in the handicap DUEL AT DAWN hurdle (2.25), while has plenty going for him in the Listed Hampton Novices’ Chase (1.50).