Double Powerful
Double Powerful ran a big race in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last Saturday. Held up out the back of the field by Conor O'Farrell through the early stages of the race, he was being squeezed along as they by-passed the final flight in the back straight. Still only 12th or 13th as they rounded the home turn and ridden along, he started to stay on from the top of the home straight. He made his way through traffic, jumped the second last flight in a share of third place, and moved into second place on the run to the last. In the end, he couldn't get to Iberico Lord, who ran out an impressive winner, but he finished in a clear second, over four lengths ahead of favourite A Pai De Nom in third.
It was a good run by Neil Mulholland's horse, coming from the rear, as he did, off a moderate pace, as evidenced by the winner's finishing speed of over 106% of overall speed. Four of the first five home were in the first seven places with a half a mile to run, while Double Powerful was still just 12th. Also, he went around the inside of the track most of the way, probably on the worst of the ground.
He had been having a frustrating season up to this point. A good third in a handicap chase at Cheltenham's October meeting on his seasonal return, and on his chasing debut, he fell or unseated in each of his next two runs, and then, returned to hurdles at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, he was effectively brought down early on in the three-mile handicap hurdle that Ma Shantou won. This was much more like it. He saw out the trip well, two miles and five and a half furlongs, while leaving the impression that he would be even better suited by a stiffer test. He is adaptable in terms of course configuration, he has gone well at Cheltenham and Aintree and Kempton and Ascot, but most of his best form is on good or good to soft ground. Interest will be heightened when he gets back on good ground again and steps back up to three miles.
Kempton, 10th January 2026
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