Nick’s Lake a splash hit

NICK ALEXANDER is confident that Lake View Lad can continue his improvement at Wetherby today.

The eight-year-old contests the Rowland Meyrick Chase and will look to follow up a recent victory at Newcastle.

Trained in Scotland by Alexander, Lake View Lad was a useful novice last season, being purchased by leading owner Trevor Hemmings ahead of his Rehearsal Chase success.

He was victorious on his only previous outing at Wetherby when taking a novice hurdle in February 2016.

Alexander, who is based near Leslie in Fife, said: “Lake View Lad has been absolutely fine since his win at Newcastle.

“He has had no training interruptions and this race was always pretty much the plan since he won that day.

“Hopefully, he will run well again, but he is obviously up near the top of the weights now, having gone up 8lb for his Newcastle win. The ground should be fine. Soft ground is perfect for him and a drop more rain would always help.

“He won a novice hurdle very well around Wetherby and I would like to think he will handle the track well. It looks a lovely race for him.”

The weights for the £45,000 three-mile contest are headed by Baywing, who finished fifth, beaten just over two lengths, in the thrilling 2017 renewal of the race.

The nine-year-old went on to win the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle in February. He is also a Grade Two winner at Wetherby, having captured the totepool Towton Novices’ Chase in February, 2017.

Last time out Baywing finished seventh behind Lake View Lad.

Cumbrian trainer Nicky Richards is also represented by the bottom weight Takingrisks ridden by promising claimer Dan McMenamin. He was second at Haydock last time out.