Gerri Colombe and Brighterdaysahead given Wetherby back-up plan in case conditions are too quick at Down Royal

Gordon Elliott has handed stable stars Gerri Colombe and Brighterdaysahead entries at Wetherby on Saturday, as he considers a back-up plan for Down Royal where he has expressed concerns about the ground.

Elliott warned on Sunday he might not run last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, for which he is 4-9, with conditions currently good, good to yielding in places and a dry forecast this week. The track is selectively watering.

It leaves Elliott considering a switch to Wetherby, where the ground is good to soft, good in places, for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (2.58) with Gerri Colombe entered along with stablemate Conflated. The opposition could include Bravemansgame, who was second in the 2023 Gold Cup, as well as Grade 1-winning novice Grey Dawning and Iroko.

Last season's King George hero Hewick was also given an entry by Shark Hanlon, while the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite is also entered.

Brighterdaysahead could take on Champion Hurdle third Luccia in the bet365 Mares' Hurdle (1.50) as she starts a season geared towards a Cheltenham Festival bid. It would be the five-year-old's first start since her breathtaking performance in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

The £100,000 Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.45) is the highlight at Ascot where Cheltenham Festival winner Chianti Classico could return. Grand National fifth Kitty's Light and 2022 winner Our Power are also among the entries.

Grade 2 Aintree bumper second Tripoli Flyer is another notable name in the entries at Ascot with the Fergal O'Brien-trained five-year-old entered in the 1m7½f novice hurdle (2.35). Friday's wide-margin Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham Valgrand was behind Tripoli Flyer at Aintree.

Grey Dawning and Iroko are also among the entries for Carlisle's Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase (1.48) on Sunday.

bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (2.58 Wetherby, Saturday)

bet365: 6-4 Bravemansgame, 7-4 Grey Dawning, 7-2 Gerri Colombe, 5 Iroko, 7 Hewick, 8 Conflated, 10 The Real Whacker, 12 French Dynamite, Thunder Rock, 14 bar

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