Lake set to take the plunge at Haydock Park

Harbour Lake will return to a happy hunting ground in a bid to register back-to-back victories in next month’s Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park.

After getting the better of an entertaining finish to the extended three mile contest at the Merseyside track 12 months ago the gelded son of Shantou will return for the defence of his crown on May 10th.

Although Harbour Lake is yet to win in three starts since, he showed plenty of encouragement in defeat on his last start when finishing sixth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday

Alan said: “Harbour Lake ran well at Aintree and I was very happy with him. He has been dropped a pound in the weights following that run and we will now look at going back to Haydock Park for the race he won last year.”

And joining Harbour Lake on the mixed card will be stablemate Helnwein, who will bid to go one better than last year in the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle.

Alan said: “We decided not to go to the Scottish Champion Hurdle as that was too close to his last run so I think we will go for the Swinton Hurdle, which he ran well in last year. He does need to bounce back though as he was slightly disappointing the last day at Plumpton.”

One horse that is now finished for the campaign is Charisma Cat, who finished sixth on her Grade One debut in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Alan said: “Charisma Cat ran a great race against the boys at Aintree. She had the worst of the conditions that day as she was out there in that storm.

“That will be her done now for the season and we will stay over hurdles with her next year I would have thought and hopefully go down the mares’ hurdle route.

“Although we didn’t have any winners at Aintree this year they all ran pretty well and five out of the six picked up some prizemoney.”

And away from his own runners Alan paid special congratulations to Dan Skelton for winning his first National Hunt Trainers’ Championship and jockey Tristan Durrell for securing a breakthrough Grade One success.

Alan added: “Congratulations go to Dan for winning the championship. I’m delighted for Dan and the team. It was also great to see Tristan Durrell get his first Grade One on Saturday as well, while it was a huge performance by I Am Maximus to regain his Grand National crown.”