THE Grade 3 racingtv.com Rowland Meyrick Case at Wetherby on St Stephen’s Day is a handicap, so Neil Alexander’s Lake View Lad was saddled with an 8lb rise for winning the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

It made no difference as Henry Brooke had him tracking longtime leader Captain Chaos before taking it up soon after the second last and galloping away to beat him by four lengths.

He was conceding a stone to the runner-up and will be the ideal age of nine when it comes to Grand National consideration but stepping up from three miles poses a tricky question.

Robbie Dunne needs rides outside the Venetia Williams stable.

Wetherby was kind to him as Neil Mulholland’s Moving In Style took the novices’ handicap chase at 8/1 and Charlie Longsdon’s 11/4 joint-favourite Willie Boy easily accounted for Oak Village in the two and a half mile handicap chase.

Andrews in form

BRIDGET Andrews struck twice for the Skelton yard at Market Rasen on Wednesday with Bennys King and 14/1 shot Ange Des Alberaux in the Lincolnshire National.

Dan’s old boss Paul Nicholls settled for effortless winner Posh Trish and Flic Ou Voyou, both ridden by Lorcan Williams, at Wincanton.

The Moores cut loose at Fontwell, Jamie winning on Chivers and Sussex Ranger, and Jack Quinlan doubled up at Huntingdon on Admiral Barratry and Well Smitten.

Quinlan’s treble

AND speaking of Quinlans….with other meetings dominating the headlines it was probably Sean Quinlan’s sheer bad luck that he chose Christmas to hit the heights. He rode a superb treble at Wetherby on Thursday.

He started with Philip Kirby’s Top Ville Ben at 11/4 in the Festive Fun Novices’ Chase (fun for Ben, anyway, because he won by 46 lengths), followed up on Cracking Find (7/2) for Sue Smith in the two-mile handicap chase.

He then earned a full round of cards from bookmakers next year by winning the three-mile handicap hurdle on Kirby’s Discay at 33/1.