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16:40 Cheltenham – Kazlian to maintain Pipe’s Fred Winter record

| 14.03.2012

David Pipe has taken the Fred Winter Hurdle largely seriously in recent years and he can saddle another winner in Kazlian at 8/1

Pipe was without a runner in the race 12 months ago, but in the four years before this, his record was a winner, two runners up and another horse to finish third.

Kazlian is Pipe’s only entrant this time around and he could not have won any easier on his latest start at Leicester, albeit against weak opposition.

He is taking a massive hike in class for this success, but assuming he appreciates the likely firm surface at Cheltenham, he must be classified as a major player.

Statistics that are in Kazlian’s favour for the Fred Winter are that five of the last six winners had triumphed on their final start before Cheltenham, while like Kazlian five of the last seven winners had run exactly the minimum of three times to gain a handicap mark.

Vendor is the favourite in the Cheltenham odds to win the Fred Winter at 4/1 and this is more a result of the positive comments from trainer Alan King rather than his displays at the track.

King has commented that the horse is as talented as stablemate Grumeti, who has suitably impressed this season and prominent in the Triumph Hurdle betting.

Vendor could become the fifth French import to win the Fred Winter in eight years, but doubts over the quality of his jumping is enough of a reason to back something at a bigger price.

Strangely, winning Sandown form has proved a useful guide to the Fred Winter in recent seasons and largely because of this, Dark And Dangerous may enter calculations as a useful each-way option at 20/1.

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Author

Craig Kemp

Craig has written for Ladbrokes since the 2010 World Cup, having previously gained a Media & Sports Journalism degree and contributed to publications including the Racing Post. His main areas of interest are horse racing and UFC, but he is also an avid X Factor gambler and likes nothing more than indulging in a spot of Hip Hop Karaoke.