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Wood declared for National Hunt Chase

Very Wood pictured on his way to victory at Navan recentlyVery Wood pictured on his way to victory at Navan recently
© Photo Healy Racing

Very Wood will run in the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham on Tuesday instead of going for the RSA Chase a day later.

In a late change of heart, trainer Noel Meade and owners Gigginstown House Stud have switched last year's Albert Bartlett winner to the four-miler for amateur riders.

Very Wood's stable companion Wounded Warrior will go the other way and will join fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Don Poli in the RSA.

"We had a discussion this morning and decided Very Wood will run in the four-miler," said Meade, whose inmate will be ridden by Nina Carberry.

"We're just thinking about the ground for later in the week. I think the ground (on Tuesday) might be too good for Wounded Warrior.

"There might be some rain coming in ahead of racing on Wednesday, so the plan at the moment is to run Wounded Warrior in the RSA.

"The horses have just been out and seem in great shape.

"They've all eaten up and seem in good form, so we're happy."

A field of 17 has been declared for the National Hunt Chase, run this year in memory of Cheltenham Gold Cup- and Grand National-winning trainer Toby Balding, who died last year.

Other Irish hopefuls are Gordon Elliott's Cause Of Causes the Willie Mullins-trained Perfect Gentleman Michael Hourigan's The Job Is Right and Thunder And Roses from Sandra Hughes' stable.

Heading the British contingent are Alan King's Sego Success the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Cogry and Paul Nicholls' Vivaldi Collonges