Warrantor just the ticket in Lanzarote

WARRANTOR ( Kempton , nap, 2.40) is progressing rapidly and can prove the answer to today’s William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle.

Warren Greatrex’s improving six-year-old makes his handicap debut and it i s perhaps significant that his connections are keen to go down this route with a gelding which also held an entry in the Grade Two hurdle being staged at Warwick.

Stablemate Shantou Bob is preferred for that assignment, but that shouldn’t detract from Warrantor’s chance as he looks for a hat-trick following wins at Chepstow and Market Rasen.

The selection’s latest victory was achieved with authority and the form of the race looks strong with the second and fifth winning subsequently. Today’s step up in trip could be the catalyst for further improvement and the son of Turtle Island heads up a shortlist which also includes Tea For Two and Hammersly Lake.

Lizzie Kelly, rider of the former, could count herself a little unlucky to pick up a two-day whip ban at Leicester on Thursday. She may end the week on a happier note aboard Tea For Two, who boasts a course and distance victory and hails from a yard that have won this event twice in the past four runnings.

Warwick’s Betfred Classic Chase is a triumph for longevity with three former winners in the line-up, but there could be a new name on the trophy courtesy of RETURN SPRING (Warwick, 3.35).

Admittedly, the Philip Hobbstrained novice lacks experience, but he was only eight lengths behind the highly- regarded Kings Palace at Cheltenham last time and the form of his previous win at Exeter could not have worked out better.

The son of Vinnie Roe looked the type to appreciate the end-to- end gallop a handicap can provide as he was keen early on that day, but his technique stood up to a searching test.

Time may tell that ROYAL ALBERT HALL ( Lingfield, nb, 3.10) faced a hopeless task trying to beat Jack Hobbs at Wolver hampt on as his conqueror set a new track record for a juvenile. He can gain compensation on his first start in handicap company today.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW (Sam Turner) struck with a 17-1 double yesterday when his nap Steel Summit (5-4) and next best Dewala (7-1) both won at Doncaster.