Charlie Hall Chase runners and riders: La Bague Au Roi heads top-class line-up

Grade 1 winner La Bague Au Roi and Welsh National hero Elegant Escape have been declared for a thrilling running of the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

Warren Greatrex's star mare, who won four of her five starts over fences last term, including the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton, will face six rivals including Ryanair Chase runner-up Aso and last year's winner Definitly Red.

Definitly Red's trainer Brian Ellison, who has enjoyed a excellent start to the season, saddled Forest Bihan to land the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last Sunday and will be hopeful of another big-race strike.

The Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle (3.05) has also attracted an intriguing line-up with Grade 1 winners Unowhatimeanharry and The Worlds End heading the seven-strong field.

Unowhatimeanharry: a consistent performer at the highest levelCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

National Hunt Chase winner Le Breuil and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyandy are the other notable names in the final field.

Black Corton, second to Definitly Red in the Charlie Hall last season, instead heads to Ascot for the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.20), where he will be joined by stablemate Adrien Du Pont.

Also among the declarations for the competitive 2m7f contest is 2017 King George runner-up Double Shuffle, Grade 2 winner Vinndication and Aintree specialist Ultragold.

Charlie Hall Chase runners and riders

Definitly Red (Brian Ellison/Danny Cook)
Aso (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch)
Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard/Tom O'Brien)
Ballyoptic (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies)
Top Ville Ben (Phil Kirby/Sean Quinlan)
Le Bague Au Roi (Warren Greatrex/Richard Johnson)
Molly The Dolly (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton)

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