The less rain we get at Kempton the better the chance of Insanity tomorrow

December 26

Only 2mm of rain fell overnight at Kempton, but, while the official going is “good, good to soft in places”, the Sunbury course expects wind and rain on Wednesday morning, and Alan is hoping that the ground does not deteriorate as he is keen to to run his classy juvenile Insanity in the introductory hurdle there tomorrow.

Alan has used this race before to crown the festive celebrations, winning it with Gibralfaro in 2015 and again with Redicean two years later.

Insanity showed bags of promise on the Flat last summer, winning a small race at Ffos Las but then only just missing the frame in a Heritage Handicap at York in October.

Alan, who is looking at Insanity more as a long-term project on the jumping front, said:”He schooled very well last week and seems to have improved since his first run over hurdles at Market Rasen, where he slightly over-raced and got a bit tired.  He is a big horse and still on the weak side, but I think he is pretty good, though not yet the finished article.

“The more the ground dries up at Kempton the better his chance, so I’d be pleased if the forecast rain did not materialise, but Insanity has a lot of potential and we could well put him away for the Flat in the new year and have fun with him over hurdles in the 2024-25 season.”