Alexander’s likely Lad

● Fife trainer is aiming for repeat in feature at Ayr

Fife trainer Nick Alexander is looking to repeat last year’s success in the totesport.com Handicap Chase at Ayr today.

Alexander, who won the race last year with Gold Opera, saddles Lake View Lad, winner of his last start at Haydock, in the feature race of Ayr’s totepool Raceday.

The seven-race card carries healthy prize-money of more than £66,000 and among Lake View Lad’s opponents in the 4pm feature is Northern Irish raider Master Ruffit from the Neil Mcknight yard.

Milnathort handler Lucinda Russell has been in good form at the track this season and could continue that run with Saint Freule in the toteexacta Handicap Hurdle at 2:20pm

Bobbie’s Diamond has been in great form for trainer Andrew Hamilton, having won and been second at Ayr on his only starts since being bought out of Tony Martin’s Irish yard and will be fancied to win again in the totequadpot Handicap Chase over two miles five furlongs at 2:50pm.

Brian Hughes is an eyecatching booking on the Mike Smith-trained Our Lucas in the tote Trifecta Handicap Hurdle for the James Barclay Challenge Trophy where his biggest danger could be course winner Charmant for trainer James Ewart.

Meanwhile, at Leicester, Granville Island seems to have been presented with a nice opportunity in which to claim a hat-trick when he rocks up in the Bet At racinguk.com Handicap Chase.

Jennie Candlish has the 11-year-old in super nick, with a narrow success at Uttoxeter in January supplemented by a much more authoritative triumph at Carlisle last month.

The handicapper has reacted accordingly, but this heavyground-loving chaser has won before off a similar sort of mark and ought to take some hauling back.

Keep close tabs on Mr Potter, who runs in division one of the one-mile handicap at Newcastle.

Richard Guest’s chestnut has been in patchy form since he last won a race off a 2lb higher mark last September.

He can be a tricky customer and has trouble settling in races, but it was pleasing to see him box on into third place at Chelmsfordaweekago.jockey Connor Beasley will no doubt need to be in a compromising mood, but there are races to be won with him off a humble rating of 55.