Lacan to land Kempton spoils

LACAN can build on a fine start for Marco Botti with victory in the Download The BetVictor App Now Handicap at Kempton.

Formerly with Clive Cox, the New Approach colt was snapped up for 65,000 guineas after winning one of his five outings for his old connections this year.

Botti quickly pitched him into action once Lacan came into his care, lining up in a competitive extended mile heat at Wolverhampton last month and punters soon latched on to send him off as favourite.

However, Brocklebank proved too strong in the finish, emerging a half-length victor with a significant pull in the weights.

Lacan looked a likely winner at one point but just ran out of gas after racing prominently and should surely be capable of better, even with 4lb extra on his back.

More Drama hit the bar last time but can go one place better in the Play Roulette & Blackjack At BetVictor.com Nursery Handicap.

She struck gold at Wolverhampton in November but was edged out by a length and a quarter by Splash Of Verve on her most recent outing after being in the front rank throughout.

The handicapper has left her untouched on a mark of 51 and she is more than capable of scoring from that kind of perch.

Fayette County tipped up on his fencing bow but can make amends in the Michael Trickey Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Taunton.

The seven-year-old was a very useful hurdler last term, winning two of his three starts, including against Vicente, who has subsequently placed at Grade Two level this term.

Tim Vaughan's charge was reasonably well supported before the off on his chasing debut at Kempton last month but after getting a bit upset in the preliminaries, he looked thoroughly in need of the experience.

He took a keen hold and his fencing was not totally fluent, with a mistake at the third-last eventually proving crucial.

Fayette County should have learnt plenty for that experience, though, and his hurdles rating of 133 certainly makes him an interesting chase recruit.

Earthmoves can strike again for Paul Nicholls in the Boot Up PC Handicap Hurdle following a comfortable win at the track last month.

Winner of one of his two bumper starts last term, the four-year-old disappointed on his return when only third at Wincanton when both a two-mile trip and good to firm ground clearly did not bring out his best.

With a longer trip and soft ground at Taunton next time up, Earthmoves really shone in beating Gaelic Myth by four lengths with the minimum of fuss.

The runner-up that day is well thought of by connections and an initial mark of 122 could prove quite lenient for Earthmoves.

Vivaccio is on a roll at present and can bring up a hat-trick in the Lewis Badges Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Warwick.

He has taken some time to find his feet since switching from France last year but after a couple of initially disappointing efforts for Venetia Williams over hurdles, he is beginning to shine over the bigger obstacles.

A winner first time out at Ludlow, the nine-length verdict that day was pretty impressive and it was no surprise to see his rating take a sharp 10lb hike.

Pitched into full company at Ludlow last week, Vivaccio showed that revised perch was no bar to success as he again put his best foot forward to win by five lengths.

His relative inexperience showed up that day as he had to survive a notable jumping error, but Vivaccio was nevertheless impressive and it would be dangerous to discount him, despite his swift return.

Three Kingdoms really should be winning the Ikis Business Consultants Novices' Chase at Newcastle if he is to live up to his Grade One entry.

John Ferguson has him in the mix for Leopardstown at Christmas and this looks an ideal stepping stone for a bit more experience before taking a leap in class.

The five-year-old ran out a three-length winner over Thomas Crapper on his fencing bow at Leicester last month, with the runner-up offering a nice form link to Henry VIII Chase winner Vibrato Valtat.

Three Kingdoms impressed with his jumping that day and was very impressive when given the signal to push for home, so he has to be the pick here.