THE Ladbrokes Trophy isn’t the only big staying handicap of the day on Saturday.
Nine are set to go to post for the 70,000 Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, and it’s an absolute cracker.
The field are headed by last year’s winner Lake View Lad.
Nick Alexander’s nine-year-old is fully 17lb higher than when landing this contest last year.
He has been off since pulling up in the Grand National and it will take a huge effort to defend his crown under top weight.
Top Ville Ben performed with a good deal of credit in Grade 1 company at Aintree last spring.
He looks the most likely pace angle in this race and he could be very dangerous if allowed a soft lead, particularly with a pipe-opening fifth in the Charlie Hall under his belt.
There has been plenty of money for Kilfilum Cross in recent days.
The eight-year-old went close in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival and shaped as though he would improve for the run when third at Stratford over an inadequate trip.
Scottish National hero Takingrisks and Captain Chaos, runner-up last year, are also worth a place on the shortlist.
Particularly the latter, who sports first-time cheekpieces and has dropped to a good mark for his in-form yard.
But preference is for Rose Dobbin’s strapping chaser JONNIESOFA.
He is a big old beast and he made a very impressive return to action when thrashing some useful rivals under a big weight at Ayr earlier this month.
He is relatively lightly-raced under Rules for a nine-year-old and he will surely relish the return to three-miles.
Testing ground is no issue for the son of Well Made, and it would be no surprise if he ends up a good deal better than his current mark.
