Weekend Preview: Johnson sticks with Spirit in Lanzarote

Timeform Debate / Timeform / 13 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Richard Johnson rides the top weight in the Lanzarote Hurdle.

"Tim Vaughan's Spirit of Adjisa currently heads the weights and will be ridden by Richard Johnson, who rode the horse to Grade 1 victory in Ireland last May..."

There are no Grade 1 races this weekend but competitive handicaps at both Kempton and Warwick more than make up for that, with the latter also hosting the Grade 2 Leamington Hurdle.

The Lanzarote Hurdle will be taking place at 14:50 at Kempton on Saturday afternoon and this year's race looks as competitive as ever with Lightning Strike and Decoy currently Timeform top-rated for the two-mile-five-furlong contest. Tim Vaughan's Spirit of Adjisa currently heads the weights and will be ridden by Richard Johnson, who rode the horse to Grade 1 victory in Ireland last May and has probably chosen to ride him over the Philip Hobbs-trained market principal Featherbed Lane, who will instead be partnered by 7lb-claimer James Best. Zanir, having his second start for Graeme McPherson, and one-time useful hurdler El Dancer, who returns to the smaller obstacles after a fruitless time chasing, are two who may have been overlooked in the market.

The novice chase scheduled to take place at 13:05 looks to be the best race on the remainder of the Kempton card, with former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Menorah lining up against Kumbeshwar and the mare Alasi. Menorah landed a similar race at Taunton last time, where he travelled and jumped well before a lack of concentration produced a blunder at the final flight, and he should have more than enough to see off his rivals.

Warwick is the other feature meeting on Saturday, with the feature handicap the three-mile-five-furlong Classic Chase, a possible pointer to the Grand National, due off at 15:40. Fortification and Faasel currently head the ratings and look to their chance, but they will have to be at the top of their game to fend off likely market leaders Neptune Equester and Sona Sasta, the former appealing as somewhat of a National type. A big run Blazing Bailey wouldn't surprise either as he is back down to his last winning mark.

In terms of overall quality, the Grade 2 Leamington Novices' Hurdle, scheduled to be run at 15:05, is one of the strongest races of the weekend with the likes of Cotton Mill, Highland Lodge and Ambion Wood all in the field. It is difficult to choose any of the three with strong confidence, but such is the impression the unbeaten Highland Lodge has created over hurdles, it will a surprise if he fails to go very close.

There is National Hunt racing from Wetherby on Saturday afternoon, where the card predominantly features handicaps. The best of them is the Class 2 handicap chase over two miles, and this year's renewal looks particularly competitive with just 8 lb separating a field of nine on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings. Rileyev currently heads tops the figures and, such is his overall consistency, he should bounce back from a below-par run at Sandown last weekend.

An ordinary all-weather meeting at Lingfield completes the action in Britain on Saturday, while over in Ireland, Punchestown hosts a seven-race jumps card. The feature comes at 14:25 with a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle over two miles, a contest headed by the exciting Ut de Sivola. However, with the consistent pair One Cool Shabra and Burrenbridge Lodge also in the field, Ut de Sivola will need a to produce a performance of real merit and it's a race that could well have some bearing on results at the Cheltenham Festival.

Action over obstacles on Sunday comes from Kelso, where an interesting 17f handicap chase takes place at 14:20. Super Baby is consistent in his grade but he will d well to contain Dancing Art, who looks sure to reverse recent form with short-head conqueror Transact on 1 lb better terms.

An all-weather card at Kempton completes the action in Britain.

Just the one meeting in Ireland on Sunday as Navan host a seven-race jumps card. Whilst the majority of the meeting looks fairly average, the beginners' chase at 15:00 may be of some interest to racing enthusiasts with Willie Mullins' Bagber set to make his fencing debut under Ruby Walsh.