Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase betting tips at Horsebetting.com on Wednesday, 26 December. Wakanda has finished runner-up in the race for the last two years and looks wroth a wager to gain a deserved success in the 3m Grade 3 feature at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Captain Chaos ran well when runner-up last time out and lurks on a handy mark, so is feared most. Lake View Lad, meanwhile, is a model of consistency and holds rock solid each-way claims. Read our in-depth 2018 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase betting tips preview below for more details on these horses’ chances.Wakanda ready to rock in Rowland MeyrickWakanda looks worth a wager to gain a deserved success in the feature race at Wetherby on Boxing Day, the 3m Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (14:10). This Sue Smith trained nine-year-old is a course winner who has finished runner-up in the last two renewals of this.
In the first of those, the son of Westerner stuck to the task well to go down by seven lengths to the now 164-rated Definitly Red off a mark of 149. The pair had smart stayer Blaklion a further 3 1/2 lengths behind in third.
Wakanda then went down by only a head to Get On The Yager 12 months ago when leading at the last and rallying on the run-in when headed, before being being unable to find any extra in the dying strides off 144. It was a cracking effort trying to concede 11lb to an in-form and improving sort.
Gutsy win at Doncaster
The gelding then went one better off 1lb higher when landing a Listed contest at Doncaster in game fashion by a head from Warriors Tale. The runner-up from whom he was receiving just 2lb, won the Grand Sefton at Aintree earlier in the month off a rating of 147 – so that gives the form a rock solid look.
It makes Wakanda, who has won off 151 in the past, look nicely treated on the pick of his form off a a current mark of 147. He also comes into this following a spin over hurdles at this venue 18 days ago to blow away the cobwebs. That was clearly a prep run to put Wakanda spot on for what is sure to have been his target for some time.
He also has a tremendous strike rate of 38.5 per cent under regular pilot Danny Cook, who is once again in the saddle, and underfoot conditions to suit. There is simply nothing not to like about the chances of Wakenda in this, so we had no hesitation in making him the main selection in our 2018 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase betting tips.Well-weighted Captain Chaos feared mostCaptain Chaos returned to form when runner-up last time out and looks weighted to make a bold bid to go one better, so is therefore feared most. Trained by Dan Skelton, this seven-year-old is a three time winner over fences and has a success to his name over course and distance.
That success came 13 months ago in a novice contest where despite mistakes he scored readily by 1 1/4 lengths off an official rating of 141. The son of Golan went on to land a similar five-runner affair at Market Rasen two starts later in game fashion off 144.
Captain Chaos is now able to race in this off a handicap mark of just 133 having hinted that his time was near when chasing home Lake View Lad in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle earlier in the month where, after making a mistake at the fifth and getting outpaced three from home, he stayed on strongly to be beaten 2 3/4 lengths.
He now meets the winner on 5lb better terms, and that gives him a big shout of turning the tables on that rival. So, providing Captain Chaos can avoid mistakes which have proved costly in the past, he looks weighted to run a huge race and the one most likely to give Wakanda most to think about.Consistent Lake View Lad a solid each-way playerAlthough the aforementioned Lake View Lad has work to do to confirm placings with Captain Chaos on revised terms, his win last time out was a career-best, so he cannot be discounted in a bid to follow-up. This Nick Alexander trained eight-year-old is a model of consistency, having won three times and been placed on five occasions in 10 starts over the larger obstacles.
He showed a really game attitude to beat Crievehill by a short-head at Haydock back in February and backed that up with a fine second to Bernardelli at Ayr, before rounding off the campaign with a solid third of 10 to Smooth Stepper at Kelso. Lake View Lad then looked better than ever when making a winning return to action in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.
This son of Oscar travelled well on the heels of the leaders before being produced to take up the running two from home. He then stayed on strongly under Henry Brooke to score readily by 2 3/4 lengths. Lake View Lad only had to be driven out to score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests, but the assessor was very impressed and has taken no chances by raising him 8lb.
A revised rating of 147 make things much tougher in this higher grade affair, but he looks the type who could have even more to offer. Lake View Lad is a really likeable type who can be relied upon to run his race and give it his best shot. It’s hard to see him not making the frame at least, so that’s why he features as the each-way punt and thus completes our 2018 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase bettings tips.Your Next Bet
