Kempton Boxing Day reports, reaction and free video replays

Barlovento festive boost for Murphy

Olly Murphy enjoyed a change of fortune on Boxing Day after Barlovento opened his account over fences in the “Get Your Ladbrokes Free Kempton Bet” Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Kempton Park.

The lightly raced six-year-old put in an assured round of jumping in the hands of champion jockey to go one better than on his chasing debut at Exeter 39 days ago in the extended two-and-a-half-mile test.

Racing just in behind the early pace, which for the bulk of the race was cut out by eventual runner-up Tapley, the 4/1 chance moved on into a slender lead between the final two fences.

And despite getting in slightly tight at the last the gelded son of Soldier Of Fortune had more than enough in hand to see off the rallying Tapley by three quarters of length to atone for his near miss at Exeter.

Murphy said: “I thought he was a big slow horse that wanted three miles on heavy ground and here we are over two and a half miles on good ground at Kempton Park, so it shows what the trainer knows. He was an unlucky loser first time out, but he has just improved for a fence and I thought he jumped magnificently the whole way round. He got a great ride, but he is a nice horse and is a big improver.

“He had only ever jumped five fences in his life as they dolled most of the fences off and they only jumped the fences up the home straight. I’ve never seen Sean so angry when he got off him at Exeter that he didn’t win. He is a horse with plenty of ability. He is still a big raw baby and that was great.

“He went around there well today and Sean said he is a horse that handled that better ground, and the two and a half miles around here well.

“I thought he was an absolute certainty around Warwick last season in a novices’ hurdle giving Ma Shantou a penalty and I was very disappointed leaving Warwick that day. It is nice to have a winner here on Boxing Day. I don’t normally get a winner on Boxing Day!

Following the race an outing in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival was mentioned as a possible target for Barlovento, however Murphy he would need to win again to stand a chance of getting into that contest.

Murphy said: “He is going to want to go up eight or nine pounds to get into that (Jack Richards Novices’ Chase). He will need to run again to get qualified for that, but he is a horse that will keep improving. He is probably on the right side of the handicap, but he is going to need to win again to get in. He is a grand horse.”

Lanzarote in mix for Surrey Lord

Toby Lawes will consider a tilt at next month’s Coral Lanzarote Hurdle back at the Sunbury track with Surrey Lord who resumed his progression in the Ladbrokes “Best Odds Guaranteed In Racing” Handicap Hurdle.

Having come up short in his hat-trick bid at Wincanton last time out the gelded son of Getaway got back in the winning groove on his first attempt over two miles five furlongs when staying on best of them all under Kevin Brogan.

The race appeared to be heading for a three way battle up the run in until long time leader, and 11/4 favourite Onewaywest, who was bidding for hat-trick, parted company with Elliott England at the last leaving Surrey Lord and King Of The Road to scrap it out.

And as the line loomed large it was the 9/1 chance that was to get the better of the argument by a length and a quarter.

Lawes said: “He has got lots of gears, but he wouldn’t give you everything all the time. He knows his own mind, but Kevin knows him very well. It is just a case of keeping him interested, but in the business part of the race he loves it.

“I did run him back quite quickly last time at Wincanton as he didn’t have a penalty, while the ground was also probably a bit loose for him. He won on soft at Ffos Las, but it wasn’t that soft to be fair.

“The quick turnaround was probably not the right thing, but it was such a unique opportunity to try as he didn’t have a penalty so we gave it a go.

“I think he has got plenty more progression and I wouldn’t know where the bottom is and hopefully we won’t find out for a long time!

“I think this sort of trip gives him more time to get into it and he has probably got the speed edge over horses at this trip.

“The Lanzarote might be the obvious choice to look at. It would be on the agenda, but I won’t commit for now.”

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