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One of Kempton's finest whose triumphant career ended in tragedy

John Randall looks at one of the stars from the golden age of hurdling

Lanzarote and John Francome after their success in the 1975 Long Walk Hurdle
Lanzarote and John Francome after their success in the 1975 Long Walk HurdleCredit: Mark Cranham

The Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton next Saturday honours a great champion who was a course specialist, winning two Christmas Hurdles and an Imperial Cup there.

Lanzarote won a total of eight races at Kempton and triumphed in the 1974 Champion Hurdle, but came to a sad end in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Bred and owned by Lord Howard de Walden, Lanzarote was by speed sire Milesian but took after his dam Slag (named after waste from coal-mining), who was a strong influence for stamina and had already produced Cesarewitch winner Scoria.

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