Smad Place 'in great form' for Ascot task Alan King reports Smad Place in good shape as the popular grey bids to supplement Aintree gains in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot today. The 10-year-old gave his trainer a pleasant surprise when winning the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month, on what was his first run for six months, and has continued to please the Barbury Castle handler. "Aintree was very special, for him to come back and show that sort of form," said King. "I could not run him in the Hennessy off top weight and this looks like the logical place to come. I've been happy with him since Aintree. "I thought if he finished third or fourth there it would be a mighty run, but it was a great performance to win. "The old boy is in great form. He's a special old horse - the following he has is quite amazing. "Let''s hope he runs well and comes back in one piece." Connections of Top Notch are hoping a recent spin over hurdles will have put him spot-on for this valuable prize. The six-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, was only beaten three lengths when last of three behind Unowhatimeanharry at Aintree earlier this month. That was his first race since he finished third to Flying Angel in the Grade One Manfiesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in April. "This has been a target for a little while. He had a prep run over hurdles two weeks ago at Aintree," said Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. "He took a bit of a blow that day going to the last, so hopefully that race will have put him straight for this one. "It will be nice to see him back over fences. He loved jumping fences last year and it will be great to see him over the big obstacles again." Henderson also runs Josses Hill, who has his first outing since finishing third to Menorah in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown in the spring. Tom George has been hanging on to Double Shuffle in search of better ground since the seven-year-old was second on his seasonal debut at Chepstow last month. Since then, the Slad trainer has declared Double Shuffle for Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase and the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton only to withdraw him because the ground was too soft. "He's in great form. We've been struggling with the ground a bit for him," George told At The Races. "Once you pass 150 there are very few opportunities in handicaps, so we've got to try and hope he has improved enough for graded class. "He's showing us all the right signs, but maybe he'll tell us to go back to handicaps. We'll have to see when it comes." The Kerry Lee-trained Top Gamble is dropped in class after running in Grade One races on his last three starts. Arguably the best of those performances came in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when he was fourth to Special Tiara. Lee said: "Two mile five on good to soft should be OK for him. His best form has come over two miles on heavy ground. There is not an awful lot the rest of the world don't know about him. "He is in great form at home and we are very hopeful. It is the right race for him out of the list of choices. "I don't want to wait until December 10 for Ireland for his first run (in the John Durkan). I need to run him otherwise he is danger of going over the top." Paul Nicholls feels Frodon could struggle in this company but is confident the five-year-old will do himself justice. Nicholls said: "He is not well handicapped and he is no man's land in Grade Two races. He ran very well against Might Bite and he will always give a good account of himself. "He has got is all to do and he is up against it."
