Ladbrokes Chase shaping up nicely Dessie Hughes is looking forward to saddling Rivage D'Or in the Ladbrokes Chase at Down Royal on Saturday. The seven-year-old, owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, has made an encouraging start to his second season over fences. A smooth winner over Berties Dream at Ballinrobe on his return in September, Rivage D'Or lost nothing in defeat when runner-up to Down In Neworleans in the Grade Three PricewaterhouseCoopers Chase at Limerick two weeks ago. Hughes is expecting another decent performance in this Grade Two contest over two and a half miles. "He's being doing very well. He won his first chase back this year and he's been second in a good chase since," said the Curragh-based handler. "He's in good form." Paul Nicholls will rely on Cristal Bonus to give him a fifth successive win in this race. The Ditcheat trainer has monopolised this Grade Two contest in recent times, starting with Noland in 2008. Herecomesthetruth, The Nightingale and Kauto Stone have ensured no other handler has got a look in. "It's always been Cristal Bonus's aim to go for this race. We've been lucky in the last four years," Nicholls told At The Races.
