Ashdale Bob© Photo Healy Racing
Jessica Harrington has called upon Paul Townend to partner Ashdale Bob in the Grade 2 Prix la Barka at Auteuil on Saturday.
While riding almost exclusively for Willie Mullins in recent times, the champion jockey has successfully combined with Harrington in the past.
Their fourth and most recent winner together came in August of 2021, when Mighty Meggsie triumphed over flights at Down Royal.
A dual victor in Grade 2 company, Ashdale Bob is without a win since April of 2021 but has run some excellent races in defeat since.
Twice a runner-up at the highest-level last year, the likeable eight-year-old failed to make an impact in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, but redeemed himself when a close fifth on his most recent start in the Punchestown equivalent.
The Diarmuid Horgan-owned bay will face eight rivals at the Parisian venue, with the Paul Nicholls-trained Red Risk among the opposition.
Townend will be bidding to claim this valuable prize for a third time, having scored aboard Thousand Stars in 2012 and Bapaume in 2018.
