Iberico Lord rules supreme in Lanzarote Hurdle

Iberico Lord ruled at Kempton Park with a comprehensive victory in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson was bidding for a fifth success in the valuable two-mile-five-furlong event, with the winner his only representative in a field of 15 for another competitive renewal.

Under James Bowen the 22-1 shot was not always ideally placed, but around the home turn he rallied on a wide line to sweep past all of his rivals and secure a four-and-a-half-length verdict from Neil Mulholland’s Double Powerful.

It was Bowen’s second Lanzarote win after his triumph aboard William Henry as a conditional back in 2018 and he said: “William Henry doesn’t feel that long ago, but I must be getting old now. I love riding in these colours (JP McManus) when I can and it’s great to ride a winner in them.

“I spoke to the boss and we agreed on the plan and we said we would see what happened and he’s done it well. I think the trip definitely helped and the whole complexion of the race suited him.

“He’s dropped down to a nice weight as well which probably told. It’s the first time I’ve ridden him for a long time, but he felt good today anyway.”

This is the third time Iberico Lord has landed one of the season’s prestigious handicap hurdles after his Greatwood and Betfair Hurdle victories in the 2023-24 season.

He ended that campaign as a Champion Hurdle contender and McManus’ representative at the Sunbury course, Sir Anthony McCoy, was thrilled to see the eight-year-old return to his best.

He said: “It is nice that he won and a bit of a surprise. Whether this trip has helped him, I’m not sure, but he’s a horse who has won some nice races like the Greatwood and Betfair a few years ago.

“He’s not done too bad has he? He also ran in a Champion Hurdle and is a good little horse, you wouldn’t mind a few more like him.

“I’m not sure on a plan, but I imagine we’ll just keep going in races like this and see how we get on.”