Lake View Lad run pleases his trainer

TRAINER Nick Alexander was delighted at the run of Lake View Lad in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock.

Nick, whose base is at Kinneston on the southern shores of Loch Leven, said: “He went well to finish third but ran a little flat and is definitely capable of better.

“Whether this came a little soon after his Newcastle win or it was the sticky ground or that he didn’t really eat or drink overnight I’m not sure. I suspect a combination but he still ran a big race.”

NICKY Henderson is not ruling out the possibility of King George VI Chase winner Might Bite heading straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup without another run.

The brilliant but sometimes wayward chaser was on his best behaviour in the Kempton showpiece as he jumped and travelled with elan to hold off the l ate charge of 50-1 shot Double Shuffle.

Henderson will consider running his charge again between now and the blue riband in March but ruled out an appearance in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in late January.

He said: “I think the one place you won’t see him is in the Cotswold Chase on Trials Day.

“There’s one unknown thing and that is three miles two furlongs and a bit round Cheltenham. He’s not been that far and you could say stamina is a question. However, I don’t see why it should worry him.

“I certainly don’t want to find out on Trials day. I want to find out on Gold Cup day.

“The Denman Chase at Newbury on February 10 would be a possibility. You’d be careful with the ground again.

“To be honest, you wouldn’t have to run him again before the Gold Cup. It’s not vital he does in our book.

“Lots of people are kind and let us take him to racecourses for gallops and if necessary we’d do that.”

Might Bite completed a big-race Boxing Day double for Henderson following the Christmas Hurdle success of Buveur D’Air, who is likely to appear again before defending his Champion Hurdle crown.

Henderson said of Buveur D’Air: “That was as slick as I’ve ever seen him. He’s in really good shape.”

The handler also issued an upbeat bulletin on Altior, who could return to action in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February, a race he won last season.

Henderson said: “The time scale for the Game Spirit is not great but it is not impossible.

“It doesn’t worry me if we go straight to the Cheltenham Festival. We can get him there without a run. He was fit when we had to stop.”

JOCKEY Rob Hornby has been suspended for 12 days after he rode a finish a circuit too soon on the card at Wolverhampton.

Hornby made the error aboard Almutamarred in the concluding race on the card, a handicap over a mile and three-quarters.

The five-year-old chestnut was sent off at odds of 16-1 and ended up finishing 10th of 11 runners, beaten 83 lengths by the winner Willyegolassiego.

A statement issued by the Wolverhampton stewards read: “Rob Hornby, the rider of Almutamarred had appeared to ride a finish a circuit too soon.

“After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, the rider was suspended for 12 days.”

Lake View Lad did well at Haydock.