La Bague Au Roi bouncing for Flogas
Tuesday 29 January 2019 16:09, UK
Warren Greatrex is looking forward to seeing his star mare La Bague Au Roi take on the Irish in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
La Bague Au Roi is unbeaten in three starts over fences this season, completing her hat-trick with a top-level triumph in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
She holds an entry on home soil in Saturday's Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown, but is firmly on course to run in Dublin a day later.
Greatrex said: "She did her last bit of schooling on Friday with Richard (Johnson) and was good. She seems in good order, so as long as everything is right between now and then we will give it a shot.
"I'm going into their backyard, and it won't be easy. The owners are very sporting, and we spotted this race a while ago. It is very good prize-money and it's good to support Irish racing.
"If she takes her form from Kempton she goes there with a big chance. I think the track will suit her and the trip is perfect.
"I'm looking forward to it."
La Bague Au Roi is one of 14 remaining entries for the Flogas Novice Chase following Tuesday's forfeit stage.
Her potential rivals include Gordon Elliott's dual Grade One winner Delta Work, his stablemate Hardline and the Aidan Howard-trained Winter Escape.
The first of four Grade Ones on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival is the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle, for which 15 youngsters stand their ground.
Elliott's four entries include Chief Justice and Coeur Sublime, while Joseph O'Brien also has a quartet of contenders - headed by course and distance winner Sir Erec.
The Willie Mullins-trained Tiger Tap Tap could renew rivalry with the latter after being beaten just a neck last month.
Mullins won five successive renewals of the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle - formerly the Deloitte - before Elliott's Samcro struck gold last year.
The champion trainer has a formidable hand again, with Future Champions Novice Hurdle winner Aramon one of four possible runners along with Prince D'Aubrelle, Elixir D'Ainay and Klassical Dream.
Elliott has a couple of hopefuls among the 14, in Felix Desjy and Vision D'honneur.
