Horse Racing: Alexander dreams of National tilt

Nick Alexander is dreaming of a possible Scottish Grand National tilt with Isla Pearl Fisher following his last-gasp victory at Musselburgh yesterday.

The nine-year-old was an 8-1 shot for the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Handicap Chase.

Multiple champion jockey Tony McCoy rode a far more positive race on favourite Blenheim Brook, but just when he looked to have victory in the bag, the Alexander runner flew home after the final fence to take the spoils by a neck with the trainer’s daughter Lucy in the saddle.

Alexander senior said: “Lucy gave the horse a lovely ride, she got him jumping really well.

“If the ground was right at Ayr he might go well in that.”

Parc Des Princes similarly came from the clouds to land the Weatherbys Printing Handicap Hurdle under an inspired ride from Dougie Costello. It was Costello’s fourth victory on the Nicky Richards-trained 20-1 shot.

Everdon Brook (9-1) was a ready winner of the Watch Kelso On TurfTV In Betting Shops Handicap Hurdle under conditional jockey Tony Kelly, while the Donald McCain stable ended the day with a double: Bhaltair (14-1 ridden by Henry Brooke) in the Scottish Racing Your Best Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase and Swift Arrow, ridden by Jason Maguire (11-2), in a thrilling finish to the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase.

Keith and James Reveley combined to take the Buy Your 2013 Annual Members’ Badge  Today Maiden Hurdle with 14-1 chance Waltz Darling, while Maguire doubled up on Rose Dobbin’s Spitz, also 14-1, in the concluding bumper.