Key questions in the Charlie Hall as prolific La Bague Au Roi steps up in class

3.40 Wetherby
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) | 3m | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

La Bague Au Roi, winner of 14 of her 20 races, is likely to start favourite for an absorbing edition of this prestigious Grade 2 prize under champion jockey Richard Johnson.

Beaten just once in five starts over fences, the best could still be to come from Warren Greatrex’s popular mare, who also boasts a fantastic record when returning from an absence.

Yet to lose on her seasonal reappearance, including when landing the mares’ Listed hurdle on this card two years ago, La Bague Au Roi gets valuable weight off all bar one of her six rivals.

KEY STAT
Nine-year-olds have a good record in this race, with four of the last nine winners fitting that category. Aso and Ballyoptic are the two representatives this time.

"She seems in very good form," Greatrex said. "This has always been the plan – our first preference to start off her season.

"She has good form at Wetherby and runs very well fresh. She gets weight off most of her opponents and, while it’s a step up, she has coped with everything we’ve thrown at her so far."

With the likes of last year’s winner Definitly Red, Grade 1-winning hurdler Ballyoptic and progressive Elegant Escape, who connections hope can develop into a proper Cheltenham Gold Cup horse, in opposition, Greatrex wasn’t really expecting La Bague Au Roi to be favourite.

He added: "I’m a little bit surprised she’s favourite, but she’s got such an incredible strike-rate, particularly early in the season. She does go very well fresh. I can’t wait to get her started."

Can Definitly Red give weight away?

Brian Ellison’s stable has been in blistering form over the past fortnight, and Definitly Red, winner of this race 12 months ago, is reported to be in “great shape” ahead of his bid to defend the crown.

The ten-year-old stayed on strongly to beat Black Corton by two lengths last November prior to slamming Double Shuffle in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree.

Definitly Red: won this race last yearCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Things didn’t quite pan out for him during the rest of the campaign, including when brought down in the Gold Cup, but Ellison is full of hope he can produce another big performance at the start of the season.

"I’m really happy with him," Ellison said. "It’s his first run of the season but that’s the case with most of them. He’s got to give weight away, but goes there in great form."

Is Ballyoptic back to his best?

Ballyoptic, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles at Aintree in 2016, also landed the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase over this course and distance in 2018.

Beaten a nose in the Scottish Grand National later that campaign, he didn’t enjoy the best of fortune last season when falling in the Becher Chase and Grand National.

Ballyoptic: former Grade 1 winner at AintreeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

However, he took advantage of a drop in class when simply pulverising his opponents on his Chepstow reappearance last month and looks a threat to all if reproducing that run.

His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who sent out a one-two in the Charlie Hall two years ago with Bristol De Mai and Blaklion, said: “Things didn’t go right for him last season but he was running very well when he fell four out in the National.

“He won very nicely last time and he doesn’t have any penalties – it looks the right race for him.”

What the trainers say

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Elegant Escape
It’s a stepping stone to either the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury or the Betfair Chase. He’s done plenty of work but will definitely improve for the run. He’s a lovely, young horse and we’re hoping he’ll improve enough during the course of the season to run in the Gold Cup.

Phil Kirby, trainer of Top Ville Ben
It’s a competitive race but we’ll see how he gets on. He deserves to take his chance in the race. He loves the track and soft ground will suit.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Molly The Dolly
We’ve had this in mind for her since she came in as she’s a mare and gets the weight allowances. She is very fit but it’s also a very deep race.

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