No sweat for Hammersly Lake as he sets up possible return to Far Hills

Hammersly Lake looks on course to return stateside after displaying fine form under Brian Hughes on a hot afternoon in the Lake District.

After running out a convincing winner of the £40,000 2m5f handicap chase, the ten-year-old's trainer Charlie Longsdon and owner Robert Aplin were plotting a return to New Jersey track Far Hills for the Grand National Hurdle after his fifth there last October.

"He's a class horse for this time of year," said Longsdon. "He finds life tough in handicap chases as he always carries top weight but we thought this place would suit him. We'll take it one race at a time and he could follow a similar route to last year before possibly going back to Far Hills."