Don’t Discount Dino In Lanzarote

Majeed ran a mighty race for us at Meydan on Thursday night, just missing out on 4th in the dying strides. The gaps that I hoped would come on the inner never materialised, and as they turned for home Morris had to angle Majeed out wide. Once he found daylight he looked as though he might even challenge for victory, but the extra ground he had to cover told in the final 100 yards and he was just pipped for a place in 5th.

Alan King bids to win the Lanzarote for the first time with Dino Velvet or River Frost.

My fancy for Saturday goes in the Listed Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton, and I think Dino Velvet could go well off a mark of 123 for in form Alan King with Wayne Hutchinson in the saddle. This 5yo son of Naaqoos showed some smart form when winning, and also in defeat last season, and he has steadily improved on his two runs to date this term. King also runs joint fav Silver Frost, but I prefer the chances of the so called 'second string'.


You would imagine all roads will lead to one of the handicap hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival for this fella, as he ran a huge race in the Fred Winter there back in March, staying on well from the rear after making a dreadful mistake at a crucial time. He was only beaten 9L for the win in 8th and it was a superb run considering the circumstances.

That fine effort came off 125 and if he has any hope of getting back to the Festival he will need to be winning at least one race between now and March. Judging by the considerate ride he was given when 5th at Newbury last time (20f gd/sft), I believe that was a run to tee him up for something else, and I believe it might be this race! If Dino Velvet puts in a clean round of jumping at Kempton I think he could be a huge player here off a feather weight of just 10st 4lbs.

Soft ground holds no fears for Dino Velvet, as he was a winner on the level in France on an easy surface. His dam is a half sister to mudlark Pop Art, a gelding that won 6 hurdle races on soft/heavy in France, including a Listed handicap. Hopefully Dino Velvet can follow in Pop Art’s hoofsteps by landing a similar race at Kempton, and at odds of 28/1 he looks worth chancing each way.

As an aside, it also makes sense to keep a close eye on anything that Nick Williams runs in this race given his stellar record in it. Small savers on his two entries at 50/1 and 28/1, Man From Mars and Dentley De Mee, might not be the worst idea ever.


STEVOS’ SELECTION: 14.40 KEMPTON-DINO VELVET E/W @ 28/1