Al Ferof and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Ruby Walsh teams up with Paul Nicholls once again with Al Ferof in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot.
The pair enjoyed a fruitful partnership for the best part of 10 years until Walsh decided to relinquish the position in order to spend more time at home in Ireland.
Walsh will be at Ascot riding Faugheen for Willie Mullins and as Nicholls' stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies will be at Haydock Park, the ride on Al Ferof was up for grabs.
The nine-year-old won the Grade Two contest 12 months ago, when he faced just one rival, but concedes weight all round this time and Nicholls has warned the grey will improve for the outing.
He said: "We've done as much as we can, but if he's going to go for the King George he needs a run. He goes well fresh but he will improve for it.
"I don't think he was quite at his best in the spring and he's sometimes funny and does go off a bit, but he was only beaten seven lengths in the Ryanair when he didn't run to his best
"In the King George he ran a blinding race on ground that was quite testing, which suited the winner. If the ground was better this year, I think it would give him a big chance as three miles on decent ground is ideal for him. We've trained him a little bit differently, we've trained him as a stayer - you never know.
"(The King George) is why we're keen to let him run on Saturday, to get a prep into him and take the freshness off and tune him up for the King George and pray we don't get too much rain."
