Horsebetting.com experts give their 2019 Lanzarote Hurdle betting tips for the valuable Listed 2m 5f handicap at Kempton on Saturday, January 12. Doux Pretender looks on a potentially handy mark and worth a punt to provide trainer Nicky Henderson with back-to-back successes in the race. Kloud Gate is on a serious upward curve, so looks the obvious danger. Lord Napier, meanwhile, has shaped with plenty of promise in two starts this season and appeals each-way. Read our in-depth 2019 Lanzarote Hurdle betting tips preview below for more details on these horses’ chances.Doux Pretender taken to sizzle in LanzaroteDoux Pretender looks decent value to land the big betting race at Kempton on Saturday, the 2m 5f Lanzarote Hurdle (14:40). This six-year-old hails from the yard of in-form trainer Nicky Henderson, who saddled William Henry to land the spoils 12 months ago, and has an unexposed profile having won two of his five starts over the obstacles for the Seven Barrows handler.
In the last of those successes on seasonal reappearance at Ascot, the French import showed a tremendous attitude to dig deep and beat Stoney Mountain by a head over the trip of this. Despite the narrow margin, Doux Pretender was well on top at the finish and value for a bit more than the winning margin.
The runner-up has since come out and bolted up by 11 lengths at Southwell to be rated 134, and there were some highly-regarded sorts in behind, so that gives the form a solid look. Doux Pretender has had just one start since and was far from disgraced when stepped up to 3m and finishing a keeping on seven-length fifth of eight to Rockpoint in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham.
He has been allotted an opening handicap mark of 134 on the back of that and it may well underestimate his ability, given his aforementioned win over Stoney Mountain. It’s also interesting that Doux Pretender now drops down in trip and switches back to a right-handed track.
Both his career successes have come going clockwise and the forecast ground is also in his favour. So with Noel Fehily, who partnered him to victory at Ascot, once again in the saddle and further improvement looking assured, there is simply nothing not to like about Doux Pretender’s profile for this. Hence he features as the main selection in our 2019 Lanzarote Hurdle betting tips.Thriving Kloud Gate sure to go wellKloud Gate heads the betting and comes into the race in tremendous form, so looks sure to go well and is therefore feared most. This Gary Moore trained seven-year-old is unbeaten in two starts this season and looks to be on a serious upward curve.
Having bolted up by eight lengths at Leicester, the son of Astronomer Royal had little difficulty in defying a 7lb penalty and top weight of 12st 1lb when keeping on strongly to beat Keep The River by seven lengths in a class 4 seven-runner handicap at Doncaster off a mark of 108.
Not surprisingly, the assessor has had his say and hit Kloud Gate with with a massive 19lb rise in the weights. A revised rating of 127 makes things much tougher, especially as he now steps up significantly in grade into Listed company.
However, he posted some very solid efforts on the level last year to be rated 93, so it may not be beyond him given that a good yardstick is to add 45lb when comparing Flat to jumps ratings. That suggests Kloud Gate could be a 138 hurdler and if that’s the case, then he is a major player in this.
He has also had just six starts over the obstacles, so further improvement looks assured. Taking everything into account then, Kloud Gate’s claims look glaringly obvious and he looks sure to make a bold bid to try and complete the hat-trick. However, at the odds on offer, he looks plenty short enough in a competitive affair, so we are keen to take him on.Lots to like about Lord Napier each-way In a race where cases can be made for many, Lord Napier looks a big each-way player. Trained by Peter Bowen, this six-year-old enjoyed a fine 2018 when winning three times and posting some solid efforts in defeat.
He ran really well when a keeping on sixth of 16 to Silver Streak in the ultra-competitive Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May off a rating of 130 and there has been lots to like about his two starts this season.
After finishing a not knocked about 5 3/4 lengths fourth of 12 to Our Merlin, who has since run well to finish second, Lord Napier caught the eye when a keeping on never nearer 8 3/4 lengths sixth of 21 to Mohayyed in the Betfair Exchange Trophy over 2m 1f at Ascot.
Those runs suggest he is building up to a big performance and the step back up in trip looks sure to suit. His current mark of 130 also looks exploitable and, with two runs under his belt, Lord Napier should now be spot on to do himself justice.
He looks to have been targeted at this by his shrewd handler and everything points to a huge run. That’s why Lord Napier gets our each-way vote and thus completes these 2019 Lanzarote Hurdle betting tips from Kempton.Your Next Bet
