Lord Of The Island

4th-Feb-2017

I think that there is an angle into this race.  The top of the market is dominated by young progressive hurdlers, but there are reasons for taking all of them on.

Rolling Dylan was just out-stayed on Shantou Bob at Chepstow last time when we had both of them on side, and I am not sure that a slog over the same distance of almost three miles on soft ground at Sandown – which this race invariably becomes – is what he wants.  I will be interested in him again when he drops down to two and a half or two and three-quarter miles.

Mr Mix is a progressive young hurdler, but he has missed a few engagements now since he beat Ruacana at Wincanton over Christmas, and he is high in the weights.

Kk Lexion is a horse that I like, but he has been noted by everybody now, and he is priced up for Saturday’s race accordingly.  He has been raised 14lb for his latest win at Wincanton, which is significant, and he is going to have to step up again if he is to win on Saturday.

As well as that, this is a race that usually goes to a more hardened campaigner, three miles on soft ground at Sandown ...

Lord Of The Island goes well right-handed.  He ran a cracker last time in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton, stepped up to two miles and five furlongs for the first time.

He just couldn’t quicken with Modus when that horse kicked on at the second last flight, and he didn’t stay on as strongly as Templeross did, but he still kept on nicely to retain third place, two lengths in front of Old Guard.

The handicapper left him on his mark of 129 for that, which was fair.  He is nine, but that was just his ninth race ever, he should step forward again for it, and he could improve further for a step up to almost three miles.  It is worth backing him at 12/1 or 14/1.

LORD OF THE ISLAND WON (ADV 14/1, SP 10/1)