Aintree hero Harbour Lake aims to follow up at Market Rasen on Wednesday

Es Perfecto finally confirmed the impression we had this time last year that he would make up into an exciting novice chaser when he justified favouritism in the two and a half mile handicap chase at Kempton today.

Alan said:”We have always liked Es Perfecto and he bumped into some good horses on his first season over fences, including finishing third to subsequent Pendil Chase winner Blow Your Wad  at Kempton on Boxing Day.”

We’ll be looking to maintain the good run for Barbury on Wednesday, when Harbour Lake will attempt to defy a 6lb rise for his Aintree success three weeks ago when he runs in another Pertemps qualifier at Market Rasen.

Alan added:”Harbour Lake was in the Betfair Hurdle at Haydock, but I felt that race came a week too soon, so we waited for Market Rasen. He has been much happier over hurdles than fences and everything has been geared around the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March, so we’ll probably have just two more races before the Festival.”

We also have two runners at Hereford on Wednesday, with Tikiti Dino kick-starting affairs in the opening novice hurdle. Alan added:”Tikito Dino did not show us much last season, either at home or in the Newbury bumper, but he did well through the summer and, having schooled well, he pleased me on his debut to finish at Hereford at the start of the month.”

Our other Hereford runner is Irish Chorus in the handicap hurdle. Alan added:”Irish Chorus ran two solid races last spring and was a creditable third at Uttoxeter four weeks ago on her first run since May. She developed physically and mentally through the year, and should be sharper for