Paul Nicholls believes Alcala has a ‘good chance’ of landing a third straight victory in Market Rasen’s feature Summer Plate (3:20).
The seven-year-old has won both starts this season, winning easily at Newton Abbot in June before landing a competitive handicap just a fortnight later.
The handicapper has raised him 5lb for his success in Devon, but he looks to be progressing and is fancied by his handler to go well.
“It does look a competitive race for him,” said the Ditcheat trainer.
“But he’s won nicely on his last two runs, so we have to go there with some confidence. He should have a good chance, we like him.”
Elsewhere Days Of Heaven is bidding for further big summer race glory for champion trainer Nicky Henderson.
He came out on top of Uttoxeter’s Clarke Chase, and has been raised just 3lb for that victory.
Dan Skelton’s Summer Cup second Shelford, Harry Fry’s Henryville and JP McManus owned duo It’s A Gimme and I’dliketheoption all go with chances.
Elsewhere on the card John Constable faces a huge 16lb rise for his monstrous Swinton Hurdle victory in the Betfred Tv Summer Handicap Hurdle (2:10).
Evan Williams’ six-year-old enjoyed a 14 length win at Haydock, but his trainer is confident he can still show his best form.
“He’s fresh and he’s well and I’m looking forward to running him,” said the Welsh trainer.
“He has got to carry a big weight, but it’s only fair after the way he won. I don’t know how he will deal with it, and no one will know until we run him there.
“He was impressive last time and deserved to go up in the weights, and the only way to know if he’s good enough to win off this mark is to run him.”
Former Imperial Cup winner Ebony Express, and Ian Williams’ Kapstadt add to a quality line-up at the Lincolnshire venue.
