Balder Success and not Raya Star will represent Barbury Castle team at Ascot
Alan King has ruled last year's winner Raya Star out of The Ladbroke and will rely instead upon Balder Succes.
Last Updated: 16/12/12 12:18pm
Raya Star would have had to carry nearly top weight and will instead run in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Balder Succes, a four-year-old, was a good winner at Haydock last time out and is one of the leading ante-post fancies.
"We were lucky enough to win The Ladbroke last year with Raya Star, but he will wait for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton this time around, so we will rely on Balder Succes at Ascot," King told www.alankingracing.co.uk.
"He is in good form and will hopefully have a decent chance in what is always a very competitive handicap."
On the same card King will also have a crack at the incredible Big Buck's in the Long Walk Hurdle with Smad Place, who disappointed behind Tidal Bay on his first run of the season.
"Smad Place worked nicely yesterday morning and seems back on track, having been forced to miss Newbury's Hennessy meeting when he was not quite right," he added.
"Obviously, Big Buck's will be hard to beat at Ascot, but if Smad Place works well in the week that is where he will go."