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Greatrex confirms La Bague Au Roi for Leopardstown

La Bague Au RoiLa Bague Au Roi
© Healy Racing Photos

Warren Greatrex has confirmed La Bague Au Roi an intended runner in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The Grade One winning mare has been left in the 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday - but Greatrex has his sights set on a trip to Ireland for the Dublin Racing Festival.

He said: "We are all set to go to Ireland. She has the entry at Sandown just in case there are any weather issues and we can’t get over on the ferry, but we will aim to get her over Thursday rather than Friday if we need to."

On course for the Sandown race is Lostintranslation, who will step up to Grade One level for the first time over fences.

After placing behind La Bague Au Roi on his first two starts over the larger obstacles, Colin Tizzard’s charge made it third time lucky with victory in the Grade Two Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, said: "He is in lovely form and we are really pleased with him at home.

"We just need to get another race into him before Cheltenham, otherwise it would be a long time from running on New Year’s Day until March. This fits perfectly."

Lostintranslation could renew rivalry with the Philip Hobbs-trained Dipper runner-up Defi Du Seuil.

Kim Bailey is likely to saddle the unbeaten Vinndication, while Nicky Henderson's Ok Corral could come back in trip after winning a Listed prize over three miles at Warwick.

Other contenders include Gary Moore’s Dell Oro and Terence O’Brien's potential Irish challenger Articulum, although he also has options on home soil at Leopardstown this weekend.