The Lew Driver-trained pacer put in a smart performance to down likely favourite Jason Rulz and resuming open-class pacer Pass Them By at the same track, producing a smart last 800m of 56.7sec.
Junior driver Robbie Close, who has partnered Lewy Risk in three of his seven wins, had the drive on Monday, and asked for an effort only over the last 800m after settling last in the five-horse trial.
''He had the hood still on. They only ran a quick half and I only let him go from the half so he had a good half, and a good blow afterwards and he came through the run good,'' Close said.
The 5yr-old has been kept busy this year with 16 starts, and is race hardened, an attribute which will come in handy against a tidy group 3 field tomorrow.
''He's had a lot of racing under his belt. Lew seems pretty happy with him.''
One advantage for Lewy Risk and Close is the preferential barrier draw.
The pair will start from barrier 4 while Jason Rulz starts from the outside of the arm in barrier 9.
Pass Them By is on the inside of the second line, while Otago-trained hopes Al Raza and Belkmyster start from spots 6 and 8 respectively.
Close's best drive of the day comes in the first, in which Smackwater Jack gets the kind draw of barrier 1.
The 2yr-old impressed on debut in Manawatu on March 26 before disappointing three days later.
Since then, he returned to Driver's Balcairn base although a second at the trials on Monday was not part of the original plan.
''He needed the run. He blew out quite a bit,'' Close said.
''He hasn't done a hell of a lot of work between races because he was meant to race at Manawatu [last week] but he never made it across on the ferry.
''I've got options to either lead or trail. The one of Nigel McGrath's [Lovetodream] goes pretty good, so we'll situate ourselves around it.''
Close thinks the John Aarts-trained Monkey's Way (race 9) should bounce back from an erratic display at Rangiora last week after winning on debut at Methven last month.
''The trainer changed a wee bit of gear on him and it didn't suit him at all,'' he said.
''He wasn't settled the whole time out on the track. [Aarts] has gone back to the old stuff and he seems a lot happier with him.''
Close was taken by Monkey's Way's win at Methven, particularly his fighting qualities in the straight, but the presence of smart trotters such as Sunny Ruby and Petite One makes the gelding's task a tough one.
''It's a bit stronger than last week, but if he trots all the way, he's definitely a First4 chance.''
Close's other drive is Best Defence (race 4).
''Hopefully, driven with a sit, he'll run on again, like he did three starts ago.''
