Kempton 2.40 Lanzarote Hurdle

A famous old race although the quality seems to have diminished in recent years, especially this year, although the paradox is that this makes the race more interesting and therefore competitive betting heat.

I can't look beyond BURROWS EDGE for the winner here. The Trainer seems to work within a 70 mile radius of his stable most of the winter these days and Kempton is a favourite hunting ground. The horse has good Course and Distance form which is a bit asset back hurdling after an aborted Chase campaign and if back to anywhere near it's normal hurdles form would be the one they all have to beat here.

Of the remainder Larkbarrow Lad is a progressive horse who may just not like the Going if it gets tacky. Has also had a second wind operation recently and just a niggle about that in a battle up the hill if it does get loose and tacky on top. Theinval intrigues me back Hurdling for the first time in ages but another who might just find this Going not quite firm enough and a better "loose change" horse may be Gortroe Joe who we had as a Tracker tip here last time out finishing 4th of 16 at 40/1.

The TRACKER though today is the Twiston-Davies trained ECHIQUIER this could be an ideal trip for th horse. Ran well for a long way on penultimate start over 3 miles at Haydock before tiring and we can forgive the last run at Southwell I think which is one of those quirky tracks that many horses just can't seem to cope with. On past Hurdles form and conditions of the race I expect a strong run and a return to form.

TIP - BURROWS EDGE / TRACKER - ECHIQUIER