La Bague Au Roi out to impress again over fences in Grade 2 event

Ladbrokes Novices' Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RUK

This Grade 2 contest has often produced superstars on their way to victory at the highest level.

Bobs Worth and Coneygree, winners of this 2m4f contest in 2011 and 2014 respectively, both went on to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory, while Dynaste (2012) landed the Ryanair Chase in 2014.

This time a select field of four will go to post headed by La Bague Au Roi, who bids to make it two out of two over fences.

A Grade 2 winner over hurdles in January, the seven-year-old bounced back from two heavy festival defeats with a clear-cut win on her chasing debut this month at this course. That form has since been franked with Thomas Campbell's straightforward victory at Ludlow on Monday.

Watch La Bague Au Roi's chasing debut again

Trainer Warren Greatrex said: "She's in great form and has come on from Newbury last time. She took to the fences well and is getting all the allowances – she looks exciting.

"She's dropping back in trip from her last run but you could drop her back to two miles as she's one of those horses who has plenty of speed and stays very well."

Talkischeap out to reverse form

Talkischeap was six-and-a-half lengths behind La Bague Au Roi in third on his chasing debut and bids to reduce the deficit for trainer Alan King.

Charles Dingwall's gelding was a useful hurdler, winning a 3m handicap at the Berkshire course in February, but was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

Talkischeap: won a handicap hurdle at Newbury last termCredit: Alan Crowhurst

King, who will saddle Dingo Dollar in the Ladbrokes Trophy on Saturday, said: "I was delighted with his chasing debut a couple of weeks ago. I hope he’s come on for that."

Lostintranslation to go one better?

The Colin Tizzard-trained Lostintranslation finished in between La Bague Au Roi and Talkischeap at Newbury and is tasked with trying to translate his classy hurdle form to fences.

The six-year-old finished second to the classy Black Op in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree last term and undoubtedly has the frame and scope to develop into a talented novice chaser.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to father Colin Tizzard, said: "He's in really good form and came out of his last run extremely well."

Spiritofthegames won a Listed chase at Chepstow last monthCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Spiritofthegames, a six-length winner of a Listed novice chase at Chepstow last month, completes the field for the in-form Dan and Harry Skelton team.

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