Ballywood can be the king in Ludlow race

SCOTTISH trainer Alan King looks to have found a good opportunity for Ballywood to bag a good prize by way of the Bromfield Sand & Gravel Handicap Chase at Ludlow.

The five-year-old has not had that much racing since joining King from France but has done little wrong.

He has bumped into one or t wo above-average performers along the way too, most notably Dynamite Dollars last time out at Doncaster.

While he was ultimately no match for the Paul Nicholls-trained hotpot, a leading fancy for the Arkle until meeting with a setback, he showed up well until the favourite asserted.

Interestingly, his first try over fences for King had resulted in victory over another Nicholls runner in Capeland, who was thought good enough to be supplemented for the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

The talk after Doncaster had been of a potential trip to Cheltenham and the Grand Annual for Ballywood but the decision not to go to the Festival promises to be rewarded.

Dan Skelton continues to rattle in the winners, and Gortroe Joe can add to his tally in the Alfa Aggregate Products Chase.

He has had mixed fortunes since going chasing, showing promise first time out at Ascot, before falling at Ludlow in January.

The seven-year-old made no mistake next time out, though, returning to the Shropshire track to get his head in front.

With that experience under his belt, there should be more to come.

Hes No Trouble has a chance i n the Windsor Clive International Novices’ Hurdle.

The Kim Bailey-trained six-year-old made a fine debut in a hot race won by Birchdale at Warwick in December and has since won at Huntingdon.