Henry Daly hoping back-to-back feature race successes can act as springboard to Aintree glory for Lounge Lizard

Lounge Lizard bounced back from a disappointing effort last time to record back-to-back successes in the feature 2m4f handicap chase.

The eight-year-old was pulled up behind 5-4 market leader El Rio at Kempton, but he put that behind him with a bold performance here, jumping to the front down the side of the track and holding off the 2023 winner and 2024 runner-up Dibble Decker to score by three-quarters of a length.

"He was unfortunate because it absolutely bucketed down last time and he doesn't like that wet ground," said his trainer Henry Daly. "I'm not sure if he didn't get a bit bored in the closing stages today."

The race was intended to act as a springboard to the Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree last year, but Lounge Lizard was a late non-runner, and connections are hoping they won't be struck down with another bout of bad luck this time around.

Daly said: "He jumped very nicely today and the plan is Aintree. We got as far as declaring him last year, but unfortunately he went lame 24 hours before because he banged himself. 

"He ran in the Becher last term and ran well, jumped well and enjoyed it, but it was very soft ground and he never got home. We set out our stall to run in the race last year and again this year."

First for Comley

Gloucestershire trainer Max Comley enjoyed his first winner under rules when Wearapinkribbon held off the late charge of Cluain Aodha to score by a neck in the 3m1f handicap hurdle. 

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