Down Royal Ladbrokes Skymas Chase

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

(3:00) 299E Ladbrokes S'chase (Grade 2) €32,500.00
( 2m 4f - 5yo+ )[MAX 18]
NHFrm
1f-13 1 Bog Warrior (AJMartin) - . ................. (153)
-2444 2 Crash (MHourigan) - . ......................... (131)
3 Cristal Bonus (FR) (PNicholls (in
GB)) - . ..................................
41234 4 Donnas Palm (NMeade) - . ................ (135)
37305 5 Imperial Shabra (POBrady) - . ........... (122)
-3212 6 Jacksonslady (JPDempsey) - . ..................
84213 7 Mia's Vic (NCKelly) - . .................................
3p346 8 Monastrell (GB) (DMChristie) - . ........ (123)
11124 9 Rathlin (GB) (MFMorris) - . ................ (148)
0p712 10 Rivage D'Or (FR) (DTHughes) - . ...... (135)

[postmanpat]

Dessie Hughes is looking forward to saddling Rivage D'Or in the Ladbrokes Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.

The seven-year-old, owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, has made an encouraging start to his second season over fences.

A smooth winner over Berties Dream at Ballinrobe on his return in September, Rivage D'Or lost nothing in defeat when runner-up to Down In Neworleans in the Grade Three PricewaterhouseCoopers Chase at Limerick two weeks ago.

Hughes is expecting another decent performance in this Grade Two contest over two and a half miles.

"He's being doing very well. He won his first chase back this year and he's been second in a good chase since," said the Curragh-based handler.

"He's in good form."

Paul Nicholls will rely on Cristal Bonus to give him a fifth successive win in this race.

The Ditcheat trainer has monopolised this Grade Two contest in recent times, starting with Noland in 2008.

Herecomesthetruth, The Nightingale and Kauto Stone have ensured no other handler has got a look in.

"It's always been Cristal Bonus's aim to go for this race. We've been lucky in the last four years," Nicholls told At The Races.

[postmanpat]

Paul Nicholls has developed a bit of a love affair with the Ladbrokes Chase in recent seasons and Cristal Bonus is his only entrant that will attempt to extend his stranglehold to five successive campaigns.

Cristal Bonus is currently one of two joint favourites at 7/4 and certainly has the scope for vast improvement as he prepares for a first race outside of novice company.

Having run no sort of race at the Cheltenham Festival in the Jewson, Cristal Bonus looked back close to his best when chasing home Menorah in a Grade One at Aintree.

Although his form towards the end of last season hinted that he would appreciate a step up to 3m, he is a dual winner over the Ladbrokes Chase distance of 2m4f.

Meanwhile, Nicholls knows what it takes to train the winner of the Down Royal contest, having saddled each of the last four victors.

Noland began the dominance in 2008, with Herecomesthetruth, The Nightingale and Kauto Stone adding their names to the roll of honour since.

Cristal Bonus is arguably better than the last three of these and comes into the race with many similarities to the trio, notably in terms of his Racing Post Rating and the weight he has been allocated for the Ladbrokes Chase.

Nicholls does not only count the profits from this race, but from Down Royal in general, sending eight horses to the circuit in the last five National Hunt seasons and celebrating six winners in this time.

If his winning streak is to end, then the conqueror is nailed on to be one of the four entrants owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, with Bog Warrior the big danger and the other joint favourite.

He will attempt to lead from start to finish and is normally an assured jumper, but may not have the depths of stamina of his fellow favourite.

[postmanpat]

Bog Warrior will put it up to cristal bonus ...has form with Peter caseys horse

[Old Vic]

Bog Warrior will put it up to cristal bonus ...has form with Peter caseys horse

If he is fully wound up Bog warrior has a pound on ratings http://www.fatjockey.com/news-blogs/...rs-2011-12-112. Not sure of conditions/ weights ...