Smad Place has Ascot date at top of his agenda after Aintree success
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Smad Place is likely to skip the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in favour of the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot on November 25.
Alan King's popular veteran bounced back to winning ways in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on his seasonal return.
As a former winner of what was the Hennessy in 2015, the Newbury feature on December 2 was in his sights, but with almost top weight, King favours the shorter race at Ascot the previous weekend.
"Smad Place will almost certainly miss the Ladbrokes Trophy," said King. "He will be top weight and has 11st 11lb as it is, so I think he will go to Ascot the week before for the two-mile-five Grade Two.
"I think that will suit him better and the owners are not keen on the Ladbrokes Trophy. I don't think I can ask him to hump top weight around."
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