Luska tops weights in Ladbroke The Shark Hanlon-trained Luska Lad is joint top-weight along with Get Me Out Of Here and Nearby for The Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday week. The six-year-old was a multiple scorer in his novice campaign and added to the win tally in a Grade Three at Punchestown in October. He has since disappointed at Down Royal but is set for the return to handicap company and could be joined by fellow raiders Pires, Son Amix and Lancetto, among others. Aegean Dawn dominates the betting for the valuable two-mile heat after the weights were revealed. Nicky Henderson's giant is unbeaten in four starts under Rules and has breezed up at Cheltenham and Ascot already this term. That second easy win saw him raised 21lb to his new mark of 140 and the five-year-old has been allotted 11st 2lb for the Listed two-mile handicap. He is the 5-1 favourite with the sponsors, who have Paul Nicholls' recent Haydock victor Toubab (11st 6lb) next best at 8-1. The Donald McCain-trained Drill Sergeant finished a distant eight-length second that day and is on course to reoppose off a weight of 10st 7lb. A tough handicapper on the Flat and placed at Group Two level for trainer Mark Johnston, Drill Sergeant will be having just his fifth start over obstacles.
