Alan King expects exciting young hurdler Redicean to boost his Cheltenham Festival claims with a victory in Kempton’s Adonis Juvenile Hurdle.
The four-year-old cruised to a comfortable ten length victory on his jumping debut at this venue just after Christmas, before landing a much more competitive race by the same margin a month later.
His two impressive wins have earned him a price of 10-1 for next month’s Triumph Hurdle where he will take on hot favourite Apple’s Shakira.
Alan King won this contest last season, and is optimistic his unbeaten hurdler can extend his record in Surrey today.
“Redicean has won both his races there so far by 10 lengths, and I couldn’t be happier with his preparation,” said the master of Barbury Castle.
“He is stepping up in grade, but he schooled on grass on Monday and I am looking forward to this next test.”
Paul Nicholls is double-handed for the two-mile event with Malaya and Grand Sancy. The foremost ran out an eye-catching winner at Wetherby earlier in the year but was disappointing when only second at Aintree last time.
Grand Sancy has finished second behind some good prospects in his last three outings. The four-year-old lost out by just over a length last time, and is being primed for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham next month.
Sheena West is represented by Harmonise who made amends after falling at Ascot on his hurdling debut to strike at Plumpton last week.
Beau Gosse travels over from France for the two-mile contest, he was well-beaten in a Grade One at Auteuil when last seen in November.
Venetia Williams’ Bid Adieu and Brendan Powell’s Kasperenko also line up in the Grade Two contest.
TIP: On form Redicean is the one they have to beat here and it looks like he might have enough in hand to win this contest. His two wins have both been very impressive, and he certainly looks a smart prospect in the making.
