Daryl Jacob offers his insight on the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday, while we have the Timeform predicted pace map and free video replays too.
Coral Lanzarote Hurdle (15:17 Kempton)
Timeform Verdict
LANESBOROUGH was very impressive on his Doncaster reappearance and is taken to cope with a 14lb hit from the handicapper. A Pai de Nom is another very progressive sort and is likely to make a bold bid to provide Dan Skelton with a hat-trick of wins in this race. French Ship, Beat The Bat and Fasol also make the shortlist.
Daryl Jacob Insight
I’m at Kempton on Saturday for Racing TV and it looks a really good card headed by the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
There are some potential graded horses in here including French Ship, Beat The Bat and Lanesborough and all three of those merit respect.
In a 17-runner race tactics will come into it and I think, on ground that will be testing enough with the frost and the cold weather, you probably want to ride a patient race on the inside.
With all that in mind I do like the look of A PAI DE NOM for Dan Skelton, who is going for a hat-trick in this race.
If there’s one horse who can make the most of the weight he’s getting from the aforementioned potential graded horses it’s him and I can see Harry Skelton saving ground throughout on the inside with a confident ride.
I wouldn’t read too much into his recent novice win at Leicester, but the previous handicap win at Cheltenham reads very well and prior to that he was narrowly beaten by Gentleman Toboot who franked the form impressively at Exeter, with the second Klub De Reve bolting up at Kempton on Boxing Day.
It’s a line of form I can’t resist given he’s rated 124 and, getting the weight from French Ship, he’s the most likely winner for me with the race likely to be run to suit.
For an each-way bet consider Just Ennemi for Harry Derham.
His trainer thinks very highly of him and he could be well handicapped. He ran over fences last time looking like he needed it, but he’s a dark horse on his French hurdles form and could be a big price.
Timeform Pace Prediction
Pace Forecast: Strong
Specific Pace Hint: The predicted very strong pace means expectations for FRENCH SHIP should be downgraded while those of IBERICO LORD should be upgraded.
Individual Price Hint: A PAI DE NOM seems likely to take up a position at the rear so in view of the anticipated pace forecast seems likely to trade a fair bit higher than Betfair SP as he has done before when successful.
Free Video Replays
A PAI DE NOM - Cheltenham 14/11/2025
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FRENCH SHIP - Newbury 29/11/2025
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsLANESBOROUGH - Doncaster 13/12/2025
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