Ballycasey’s (5/1) sole defeat came when third behind Morning Assembly (8/1) at Punchestown last April.
It was reported last week that jockey Davy Russell could be in line for the ride on Morning Assembly because the Ruby Walsh, the usual partner for Pat Fahy’s gelding, is likely to be aboard Ballycasey.
Fahy explained the situation: "We've booked Davy to ride the horse on the understanding that if Ruby became available, which I know looks slim at this stage, then things could change. We're leaving the door open for Ruby as he has ridden him all season and knows the horse well, but if Davy rides, we'll be 100 per cent happy.”
Alan King opted to close his stable for a period earlier this season when his horses were not performing but that break could have a silver lining as the season reaches its climax. King’s horses may have inadvertently benefited from their lack of racing during the poor weather when the ground was heavy. They could be all the fresher for it.
King’s Smad Place (7/1) is second favourite and won a three mile novices’ chase at Newbury in February, beating Sam Winner (12/1) by two lengths, who in turn was 31 lengths ahead of Mendip Express.
