Named after the leading hurdler of the 70’s, Lanzarote, who won the 1974 Champion Hurdle - the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle is staged at Kempton Park racecourse each January.
Run over 2m5f, with 10 hurdles to tackle, the race is always a hotly-contested affair and in the past has been won three times by trainer Gary Moore, while the Nick Williams, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson yards are others to have won the race in recent years. Including in 2020 when we saw the Nicky Henderson-trained Burrows Edge land the prize – the yard’s third win in the race since 2013, while 12 month ago the Emma Lavelle yard won the race with 66/1 shot Boreham Bill.
Here at TQ we look back at past winners and gives you the key stats to look out for ahead of the 2022 renewal – this year run on Saturday 15th January.
Recent Lanzarote Hurdle Winners
2021 - BOREHAM BILL (66/1)
2020 – BURROWS EDGE (5/1)
2019 – BIG TIME DANCER (16/1)
2018 – WILLIAM HENRY (7/1)
2017 – MODUS (7/1)
2016 – YALA ENKI (11/4 fav)
2015 – TEA FOR TWO (9/2 jfav)
2014 – SAPHIR DU RHEU(6/1)
2013 – OSCARA DARA (5/1)
2012 – SWINCOMBE FLAME (9/2 fav)
2011 – JAMES DE VASSEY (8/1)
2010 – MICHAEL FLIPS (9/1)
2009 – No Race
2008 – NYCTEOS (7/4 fav)
2007 – VERASI (20/1)
2006 – BUCK WHALEY (5/2 fav) / RAYSHAN (22/1)
2005 – CROSSBOW CREEK (16/1)
2004 – LIMERICK BOY (10/1)
2003 – NON SO (9/1)
2002 – MAJLIS (7/1)
Lanzarote Hurdle Betting Trends
20/20 – Had won between 1-3 times over hurdles before
17/20 – Aged 7 or younger
17/20 – Had raced within the last 7 weeks
16/20 – Had won exactly 2 times over hurdles before
15/20 – Returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
15/20 – Winners that went onto run at that season’s Cheltenham Festival (no winners)
14/20 – Winning distance 3 lengths or less
14/20 – Had never won a hurdles race over 2m4f or longer before
14/20 – Irish (8) or French (6) bred
13/20 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
12/20 – Carried 10-11 or less
11/20 – Aged 6 years-old
9/20 – Placed favourites
8/20 – Won last time out
7/20 – Had run at Kempton before (5 won)
5/20 - Winning favourites
4/20 – Trained by Nicky Henderson (3 of the last 9)
3/20 – Trained by Nick Williams
3/20 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
Trainer Gary Moore won the race in 1996, 1998 & 2007
Since 1980 (38 runnings) 34 winners have been aged 7 or younger
The winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 12/1
Note: the 2006 running was a dead heat between Rayshan & Buck Whaley and run at Carlisle
TQ VERDICT: A super-competitive renewal with many familiar faces in the line-up. It’s a race the Nicky Henderson yard have won three times since 2013 too, so their runners Call Me Lord, Marie’s Rock and Monte Cristo all have to command respect. Of that trio, the Nico de Boinville-ridden MARIE’S ROCK, who won well here at Kempton last time out, gets the nod. She won easily by 7 lengths that last day so despite being 9lbs higher here did it in the style of an improving horse that will have very similar conditions again this time. With 17 of the last 20 winners aged 7 or younger, then I’m happy to rule out the older runners - like William Henry, Call Me Lord, Commanche Red, Dans Le Vent and Ch’tibello. Paul Nicholls is another yard to note, having won this race three times in the last 20 years - he runs Gelino Bello, who hasn’t been disgraced in running second to the useful-looking Blazing Khal at Cheltenham the last twice. Up For Parol can go well too for the in-form Jamie Snowden yard, while it’s been hard to knock the recent wins of Green Book for the Venetia Williams yard. This is harder though, but he’s going the right way and with young Ned Fox taking off a whopping 10lbs from the saddle he’s dangerous. But the other horse I’ve been impressed with this season is EARTH LORD (e/w). This Philip Hobbs runner also comes here off the back off two wins (Wincanton and Ascot) and there could be more to come. He’s up another 6lbs here but has been showing a good turn of foot in his races and also travelling well into them to suggest there is more in the locker.
