8:50 – Kempton – LADIES DAY WITH TOBY ANSTIS 08.09.12 HANDICAP (LONDON MILE QUALIFIER)(CLASS 4) (3yo+ 0-80) Standard To Slow 1m
Trainer Han Adielsson has sent out two winners and one placed runner from just four runners in the last 14 days which includes a 28/1 winner at Brighton yesterday. Hurricane Spirit is only trading at half that price, but back down in trip on an all weather surface the 8 year old bay gelding does look to have a touch of value about him.
Hurricane Spirit saves his best efforts for the all weather as 15 runs with just one 3rd place on turf would testify. His record on the artificial surface is much better as he has won 8 times and been placed 5 times from 28 runs on the surface for a combined win and place strike rate of 46.42%. He has run at Kempton 14 times and has won 4 times and been placed one, which was on his last run 14 days ago.
That run was over 1 mile 3 furlongs which was a decent effort considering that the furthest he has won over is 1 mile 2 furlongs and he was trying the longer trip for the first time. He drops down to a trip of 1 mile this evening and he has won over course and distance twice from 5 runs. One of those wins can off an Official Rating of 80 and he runs off a handicap mark of 78 today. He has won off marks as high as 87 in the handicaps in the past and won off 102 back in 2006 in a Class 3 Conditions race. He is not up to that level now but is definitely consistent in the high 70’s and low 80’s.
He was claimed by Han Adielsson for £5,000 after he won a claiming race at Linfield back in March and the change of trainer and scenery appear to have benefited Hurricane Spirit as in his two runs in the UK for his new yard he has won over course and distance in June and finished 3rd on his first try over a distance further than 10 furlongs last time.
He is ridden by Nicole Nordblad who claims 3lbs and has ridden 13 winners from 94 runners so far this season, including 5 winners from 28 runners at Kempton. She has ridden Hurricane Spirit on all of his starts since he moved stables, so the combination have a record of 1 win and 1 third place from two runs.
Since the new surface was laid at Kempton the going has been riding ‘Standard to Slow’. This is having the effect of penalising hold up horses as it is proving difficult to make headway running from off the pace. One his last run Hurricane Spirit was dropped in at the back of the field and did well to come through to 3rd place. He can be a keen sort so it is hoped that he will be ridden more prominently this evening. When he won at Kempton over 1 mile two starts back he was up with the pace and tracked the leaders and was in full command a furlong out before being pushed clear to win by 2 ½ lengths off just 6lbs lower. A repeat performance at what appears to be a very generous each way price of 14/1 would do very nicely this evening.
