Irish trio declared for The Ladbroke Cuan Na Grai, Sky Hall and Mourne Rambler are among the maximum of 21 declared for The Ladbroke, a #150,000 handicap hurdle over two miles at Ascot on Saturday. Cuan Na Grai has been lightly-raced since completing a four-timer with an impressive success in the 2006 Galway Hurdle. The Paul Nolan-trained seven-year-old was far from disgraced last time when fourth to Megans Joy on unsuitably heavy ground in a Grade 2 race at Tipperary. The Noel Meade-trained Sky Hall is a four-time winner, and was only headed close home at Fairyhouse three weeks ago when runner-up to the progressive Solwhit. Mourne Rambler won three of his first six starts before cutting little ice on his seasonal reappearance behind the front-running Kahuna at Galway in October. It is interesting to note how the three Irish-trained challengers are handicapped in Britain compared with their home mark. Cuan Na Grai comes out best with a rating of 137, just 2lb higher than his Irish rating. Sky Hall is 4lb higher in Britain on 134, while the Tony Martin-trained Mourne Rambler is given a mark of 128 - 9lb higher than his Irish rating. The JP McManus-owned Belcantista has been well-backed ante-post for The Ladbroke, and the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has sneaked in along with Prince Taime on bottom weight off 10st6lb. Imperial Cup and Cheltenham Festival runner-up Ashkazar will make his eagerly awaited seasonal debut off top weight of 11st12lb, while the Greatwood Hurdle 1-2 of Numide and Aigle d'Or also take their place in the line-up. Sentry Duty will also help Aigle d'Or's trainer Nicky Henderson try to follow up a win in the race last year. Paul Nicholls has put conditional jockey Harry Skelton on Five Dream, with Ruby Walsh getting the leg-up on Take The Breeze. Khyber Kim, Group Captain, Noble Alan, last year's runner-up Alsadaa, Squadron, Songe, Mamlook, Irish Legend, European Dream, and Leamington Lad complete the line-up. The sponsors bet: 5/1 Aigle d'Or, 7/1 Ashkazar, Numide, Belcantista, 8/1 Sentry Duty, 14/1 Bar. Cuan Na Grai is a 20/1 chance, with Sky Hall and Mourne Rambler both on 25's.
