Dr Richard Newland is thrilled to have secured Barry Geraghty‘s services for Act Of Kalanisi in the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.
The trainer is hopeful his charge can improve on his fine last run, when beaten a total of about five lengths into sixth behind Raya Star in The Ladbroke at Ascot.
“When this horse won at Ascot last year, he chipped a pastern and it put him out for the rest of the season. He had an operation and it took him quite a long time to recover from it,” said the Worcestershire-based handler.
“We had one or two problems with him before The Ladbroke with him going intermittently lame and so on, but the good news is he took that race really well and has really come on for it. With that in mind, I would be hopeful of a very good run and I think the step up in trip will be right up his street.
“I wanted to have a good pro on him. Richard Johnson has ridden him before, but he has an allegiance with Tim Vaughan. Barry is a pretty good substitute.”
Vaughan remains bullish about Spirit Of Adjisa’s chances, despite his hefty burden of 11st 12lb.
The Vale Of Glamorgan handler said: “I’m very excited about running him. He needed the run last time at Aintree and the weather turned against us that day as well, so the ground ended up very heavy.
“Hopefully now he has that run under his belt it will have sharpened him for this and the rest of the season. You never really want to be top weight in a handicap like this as you’re always vulnerable, but he’s in great form and everything is in his favour.
“I think he should run a solid race and he looks a very big price at 25-1. He’s a Grade One winner and he’s got his handicap mark for a reason.”
Tags: Barry Geraghty, Dr Richard Newland, Grade One, horse, ID, OK, PA, Richard Johnson, Tim Vaughan
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