River Frost looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton today (2.40).
Alan King’s charge is 1-1 over couyrse and distance and unbeaten in two starts at the venue.
He won three of his six starts last season and rounded off the campaign with a solid keeping on 8 1/4 length ninth of 25 to Supasundae in the ultra-competitive Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 143.
River Frost is now able to race off just 2lb higher having run a cracker on seasonal reappearance when a 2 length fifth of 18 to Court Minstrel in the valuable Silver Trophy at Chepstow in October.
The form of that race has worked out extremely well and thrown-up a host of subsequent winners.
Sam Spinner, who finished second and was receiving 6lb from the selection, has won twice since – including a Grade 1 at Ascot – to be rated 164.
Wholestone, who was giving 3lb and finished 1/2 a length in front of River Frost in fourth, has gone on to land a Grade 2 at Cheltenham to be rated 155.
The seventh home Old Guard has also scored twice since whilst Bags Groove, who came eighth,
has also bagged a brace of successes and now meets River Frost on 9lb worse terms.
It suggests that River Frost is ahead of his mark and another plus is that he is three from six under Barry Geraghty.
Connections also appear to have resisted the temptation to run him since Chepstow to preserve his mark and there is simply nothing not to like about River frost’s profile for this contest.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-wau River Frost (6/1 bet365, BetVictor, Coral, Ladbrokes – BOG)