Kris Spin

7th-Apr-2018

Donna’s Diamond could be a class apart here.  He won the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in February and he didn’t run badly in the Stayers’ Hurdle last time.  However, he is up to a mark of 146, 17lb higher than the mark off which he won at Haydock in January, on his third last run, and he is short.

I prefer Kris Spin at a bigger price.  Kerry Lee’s horse was a very good horse four years ago.  He has had his problems since, he has had three prolonged spells on the sidelines in the interim, but he has shown signs recently of re-discovering his old form.

Winner of a handicap hurdle at Ayr in November off a mark of 129, he was well beaten in the Heroes Handicap Hurdle at Sandown in February, but he bounced back last time at Fontwell, when he stayed on strongly from the second last flight to beat Oh Land Abloom by 14 lengths.

That was over three and a quarter miles on heavy ground, and he appeared to relish every yard of the trip, so today’s test on heavy ground should suit him well.

The handicapper raised him by 7lb for that win, but he deserved a hike of that magnitude, he won with plenty in hand.  Also, that takes him up to a mark of just 140, which is the mark off which he finished second in the Pertemps Network Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock in May 2014.

He could still be well handicapped on that mark, and he will relish today’s stamina-sapping conditions.

KRIS SPIN WON (ADV 7/1, SP 9/2)