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Ground at Newbury to suit tip after Windsor disappointment
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Well-backed Lanzarote runner can appreciate conditions
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The dreaded double-entry eases us into this week's antepost column. Keable holds engagements at both Newbury and Exeter on Sunday, and with the forecast wet on soft already, surely Hobbs and White will stick to Newbury? But then what do I know.
He's a 14/115.00 shot and I am of the firm belief he is better than his Windsor effort last time.
In a valuable race, Nicky Henderson's Go To War popped up at a big price under an enterprising ride and seemed to handle the unique circuit with ease, and I am not sure Keable did.
Keable in fact was in touch in the closing stages but seemed to call it a day at the end and dropped back down to fifth, but I wouldn't doubt the horse's ability over 3m, nor in soft. Ergo the track was to blame.
He was also a big drifter in the market that day and was a BSP 20.0 and hit 10/111.00 in-running.
With a win at Newbury under his belt from the Coral Gold Cup meeting, a hurdle race landed from 123 on soft, he still looks unexposed and he also won over CD last winter in soft beating Job - getting that particular "job done".
Back Keable in the 13:35 at Newbury EW three places
Lanesborough, who finished fifth in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last time, enjoys soft ground. He was subject of serious support that day, sent off 9/25.50 for a big pot, which tells you something about how he was fancied.
However, Timeform rated the ground officially "good", and that wouldn't have been optimum for Lanesborough and back on some softer going will suit him.
Lanesborough absolutely smashed up Williethebuilder by 8L at Doncaster in mid-December from a mark of 116. Williethebuilder has since won and ran really well when finishing third in a valuable race at Musselburgh.
Soft conditions at Warwick last winter brought about a 5L win for Lanesborough too (Timeform rated the going heavy), so backing him this weekend we almost certainly will be presented with more favourable conditions rather than the "good" he faced in the Lanzarote.
His trainer Ben Pauling and rider Ben Jones continue on the primrose path on Saturdays, regularly churning out big wins.
This looks to have been a bit of a target too for Lanesborough, with Pauling quoted pre-Kempton: "I think he's versatile and before Doncaster I didn't have him down as a proper two-miler but then he seemed to handle that perfectly OK.
"The lovely thing is you can put him anywhere you want in the race, there will be no pressure and over that trip he can take his time and find a nice position, get in a rhythm then turning for home hopefully be there competing."
He went on: "He's in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury early next month, but he would have to come out of this really well to go there, but it wouldn't be out of the question."
And no double entries, thank you Ben.
Back Lanesborough in the 15:20 at Newbury EW three places