Benny Be Good set to hurdle past handicap

The lucrative prize has been won by top-class performers Diamond Harry and Grands Crus for the last two years, with races over these obstacles being seen as the ideal schooling ground for future chasers.

Benny Be Good is already a four-time winner over fences but having rocketed up the handicap, Reveley is keen to make the most of his lower rating over hurdles.

“The weights going up isn’t ideal as he’ll carry over 11st now, but he’s in good order and it’s a nice prize to go for,” said the Saltburn handler.

“His rating over fences has obviously gone very high and because of that the handicapper has knocked him up over hurdles as well. I think his last winning mark over hurdles was 120 and he’s now on 143.

“But, to be fair, he ran well off this mark in a competitive hurdle race at Aintree last time and having a go at the fixed brush hurdles would look the obvious place to go as he’s a good jumper of a fence.

“The ground will suit him and he’s the right type of horse for the race. I’ve been placed a couple of times in it before and it would be a good race to win, so we’ll see how we get on.”

On the same card, Reveley’s son James takes his biggest ride since becoming Nick Williams’s stable jockey when partnering Diamond Harry against superstars Long Run and Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase.

Last year’s Hennessy hero has not been seen since that Newbury triumph and was a late withdrawal from the Charlie Hall at Wetherby when banging a leg in his box.

“He’s lightly-raced and has lots of ability. He’s still really a second-season chaser because he had his novice year where he didn’t run that often and then had just the one run in the Hennessy last year,” said Reveley.

“Hopefully, there’s plenty of improvement in him, there’ll need to be. He has every chance.”

Charlie Hall first and second Weird Al and Time For Rupert renew rivalry on Merseyside, with Peter Bowen’s Old Roan Chase runner-up Pure Faith the outsider in the select field of six.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison is aiming Abergavenny at The Ladbroke at Ascot next month after his excellent run in defeat in Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The four-year-old lined up at Prestbury Park on the back of three minor-race victories over hurdles at Hereford, Wetherby and Sedgefield, and was sent off at a big price for what is traditionally one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season.

But the youngster ran with huge credit to finish third and Ellison admits he has always been held in high regard.

“He ran a blinder for a horse who had only had three runs in novice hurdles, but we always knew he was good.

“He showed he can be competitive in those handicaps and I’d imagine he’ll go for The Ladbroke (December 17) next.”

More fancied for the Greatwood was Abergavenny’s stable companion Ultimate, but he weakened to finish 10th having been ridden close to the pace.

Ellison admitted: “He ran a blinder as well, but the problem with him is he puts too much effort into it and in those big handicaps, there are always horses harrying for the lead.”