Key questions as Henry Brooke targets Rowland Meyrick hat-trick

2.10 Wetherby
racingtv.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 3m | 4yo+ | ITV1/RTV

Can Brooke bag a hat-trick?

Henry Brooke is targeting a third successive victory in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase as he partners the Nick Alexander-trained Lake View Lad at Wetherby.

Brooke landed the Boxing Day feature with Definitly Red in 2016 before scoring by a head a year ago with Get On The Yager.

This season he partners Trevor Hemmings' eight-year-old Lake View Lad, who was impressive in winning Newcastle's Rehearsal Chase on his only outing so far season.

Alexander said: "Lake View Lad has been absolutely fine since his win at Newcastle. He's had no training interruptions and this race was always pretty much the plan since he won that day.

"Hopefully he'll run well again, but he's up near the top of the weights now, having gone up 8lb for his Newcastle win."

He added: "The ground should be fine. Soft ground is perfect for him and a drop more rain would always help. He won a novices' hurdle very well around Wetherby and I'd like to think he'll handle the track well. It looks a lovely race for him."

Third time lucky for Wakanda?

The Sue Smith-trained Wakanda has finished runner-up in the last two runnings of this Grade 3 event, including when defeated by a head last year.

The nine-year-old is 3lb higher than when lining up here a year ago and ran well when fifth on his seasonal bow over hurdles.

Smith said: "He goes there in good form and we're happy with him going into the race. It's his first time over fences this season and he ran okay over hurdles last time.

"He's been a tad unlucky in this race before but we know he likes it around there, and the conditions are in his favour. We're looking forward to a good run."

Can Richards continue red-hot run?

Cumbrian trainer Nicky Richards has been in great form this month and aims to continue his success with two representatives heading to West Yorkshire.

Richards, who has saddled nine winners from 25 runners in December, runs Eider winner Baywing alongside Takingrisks, who was a narrow second at Haydock last time.

Richards said: "Baywing seems in good order going into the race. He needs very soft ground to be at his best but is ready to run and we're looking forward to seeing him.

"Takingrisks has ran two sound races this year. It was the jockey's [Danny McMenamin] first ride over fences at Haydock last month and he made a decent job of it, and this is his second.

"The horse is in good shape, at the right end of the handicap and I'm sure he'll run another good race."

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Crievehill
He schooled very nicely on Christmas Eve and I've been dying to run him over this three miles, which should suit him down to the ground.

Richard Hobson, trainer of Allysson Monterg
He's in good order. He was seventh in the Ladbrokes Trophy on his comeback run after a summer break; he's a big rangy horse and has come on leaps and bounds since. The ground, track and trip should suit him as well.

Caroline Bailey, trainer of Crosspark
He's gone up in the handicap but back to a mark he was reasonably competitive off last season. He's run well round Wetherby and he's in very good form. It's a good race but he's entitled to be there.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Captain Chaos
I've had this race in mind for him for a while. It was a good run in the Rehearsal Chase and I hope he can go close again. But it's quite a competitive race.

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