Paul Ferguson has three selections for us on Saturday; Waiting Patiently (2:05) and William Henry (2:40) at Kempton and Mr Whipped (3:00) at Warwick.
This afternoon’s Lanzarote Hurdle looks a strong renewal on paper, but top-weight William Henry (2:40) has plenty going for him and might well be able to provide James Bowen with a second-successive big race Saturday afternoon winner.
Pulled-up on his chasing debut at Cheltenham – didn’t jump well at all – that plan has been shelved and he returns to hurdling on a mark from which he can plunder a nice prize at some stage. Ideally, he would prefer better ground, but his second on soft ground at Cheltenham last January now reads really well and he won a bumper at this track, back in March 2015.
The son of King’s Thearte is a strong-traveller and struck me throughout his novice campaign last term that he could be well suited by a strongly run handicap, and he should be backed each-way with 16 going to post and four places on offer.
Earlier on the Kempton card Waiting Patiently (2:05) is fancied to win the 32Red Casino Chase, for Malcolm Jefferson and Brian Hughes.
The seven-year-old, who in contrast to William Henry relishes a bit of juice in the ground, remains unbeaten in four chase starts and lowered the colours of Politologue at Haydock a year ago. He was a smooth winner of an intermediate chase at Carlisle on his reappearance and he is the up-and-comer in this Listed contest. He needs to step forward once again, but he looks capable of doing that and can take this en route to graded targets in the spring.
At Warwick Mr Whipped (3:00) can land the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
The five-year-old won his sole start in the Irish Point-to-Point sphere and is two from two under Rules, stepping forward on his debut success at Kempton, by beating a decent field at Newbury under his penalty. That earned him a crack at something better and, though Count Meribel probably boasts the strongest form to date, he is fancied to maintain his 100% record.
Saturday’s selections:
2:05 Kempton: Waiting Patiently
2:40 Kempton: William Henry
3:00 Warwick: Mr Whipped
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