skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase shaping up well The £50,000 skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase is shaping up into a most exciting contest with both last year´s winner Gunner Welburn and the 2003 Scottish National winner Ryalux today confirmed as definite starters at Wetherby on December 26. Last season, Gunner Welburn came home fourth lengths clear of Skippers Cleuch in the three mile and one furlong handicap chase and is set to defend his title this year. Trainer Andrew Balding reported today: 'I am very happy with Gunner Welburn and he´s ready to run. If the racing goes ahead at Wetherby, he will be there.' The talented 12-year-old has run twice this year, finishing fifth in the Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock on November 14 before taking third spot behind One Knight in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow. Ryalux is on the comeback trail, having last run at Haydock in the December of 2003 when finishing fifth to Keen Leader in the Tommy Whittle Chase. His greatest day came at Ayr in April, 2003, when he denied Stormez by a neck to land the Scottish Grand National. Trainer Andy Crook said today: 'Ryalux will definitely go to Wetherby for the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase.' The Leyburn trainer added that he is hoping for a decent run in what will be the 11-year-old´s first outing for over a year: 'This run will tell us how he is and I hope he comes out of the race OK. I think I have him fit and well but, as horses get older, they always take that one race to put them spot on. 'He will be better for this run, no doubt about it, but I am still expecting a good run from him. 'I have had a few niggling problems with getting him ready. I would ideally have liked to give him a prep race at Kelso about three weeks ago but he unfortunately put his pelvis out just before and so that put a block to that. 'It has not been the ideal preparation as I wanted to run him before and have him 100% for the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase. It is a race I have been very unlucky in previously - Heidi III was second to Behrajan in 2001 while in 2002 I was planning to run Ryalux but the meeting was abandoned while last season I was again going to run ´Rylie´ but he got some heat in his leg just beforehand. Hopefully, the weather will be fair and we´ll get there this year! 'Richard McGrath will hopefully ride him - he came and schooled him on Saturday and they went well. Ryalux´s long-term aim will be the Scottish National once again.'
