William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle
Grade 1, Kempton Park 14:35
£40,000 added,
4yo plus,
2m 5f, Class 1  
Saturday 9th January 2016

BetZone

1 Yala Enki 11/4F
2 Westren Warrior 9/2
3 Ibis Du Rheu 11/2
NR: Gevrey Chambertin (FR), Unowhatimeanharry
9 ran Distances: 2l, 1¾l, 9l
TIME 5m 25.10s (slow by 31.10s)

Yala Enki sweated up like a juvenile going into the stalls for the first time yesterday but won the Lanzarote comfortably!

Yala Enki
© Racehorse Photos
Yala Enki

Available at 11-2 in the morning, Yala Enki was backed into 11-4 favouritism and young Charlie Deutsch stole a few lengths at the start which played a big factor in his win.

Going down the back straight his goose looked cooked as he fluffed a few hurdles and the likes of Ibis Du Rheu and Brother Tedd closed up . However, Deutsch, who is proving terrific value for his 5lb claim this season for trainer Venetia Williams, had just saved enough up his sleeve and a flying leap at the last enabled him to maintain an advantage.

Westren Warrior was beaten two lengths into second, with Ibis Du Rheu third.

Deutsch said: "That was my biggest win, definitely. He really was quite tough and gusty. I kept kicking and squeezing him off the bend, and he just kept finding more and more. He was very brave and he stays.

"He was quite keen going to post and I was just trying to settle him. I was trying to make the most of him because he stays.

"He is quite a hot horse and that's why he sweated up a bit but it doesn't seem to affect him much. There wasn't much pace, so I just thought I'd make it myself.

"I'm delighted. A winner is a winner. I enjoy hurdles just as much as I enjoy fences. It's great to get the opportunity and it's a great feeling.

"I think he'll make a chaser, definitely, but I'll enjoy this for now."

Owner Clive Hitchings said: "He won over fences in France so really we want to go chasing, but as he was a novice Venetia said we should go down that route.

"He won a novice quite easily and then ran in the Fixed Brush Hurdle (at Haydock), but was taken on for the lead and possibly didn't see out the trip.

"We hope to go chasing with him next season."

William Hill

William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle (Listed Handicap)
£40,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 5f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places

Pos D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Yala Enki (FR) 11/4f Charlie Deutsch (5)
10-3
Miss V Williams 6
2nd 2 Westren Warrior (IRE) 9/2 W Kennedy
10-0
Dr R D P Newland 7
3rd Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 11/2 Sam Twiston-Davies
10-8
P F Nicholls 5
4th 9 Brother Tedd 7/1 R Johnson
11-12
P J Hobbs 7
5th Little Boy Boru (IRE) 16/1 Harry Bannister (3)
10-0
Miss S Smith 8
6th Deep Trouble (IRE) 33/1 Kielan Woods
10-13
B I Case 9
7th Un Ace (FR) 10/1 D Bass
11-3
K C Bailey 8
8th 16 Dell' Arca (IRE) 11/1 T Scudamore
11-1
D Pipe 7
PU Bivouac (FR) 5/1 N D Fehily
11-0
N J Henderson 5
NR Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 10/1 2nd Preference
11-4
D Pipe 8
NR Unowhatimeanharry 5/1 Non Runner
10-11
H Fry 8

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