Boothill looking for Aintree hat-trick

However, Harry Fry’s might consider switching his nine-year-old to the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham a week earlier as he feels he may be too high in the weights now with a handicap rating of 158, 3lb higher than last year and a full 18lb more than two years ago.

“He’s going to be entered in the Shloer Chase (at Cheltenham) next Friday and we’re going to decide whether we go there or wait for this race a week later, in which he’d be going for a third win on the trot,” said Fry on the Ascot website.

“We know how well he goes at the track, he won two good prizes there last season. He’s significantly higher in the handicap than for his first two wins in the race but Ascot has been a very happy hunting ground for him.

“A strong pace suits him and Ascot is a wonderful jumping track, he’s done well round there on numerous occasions. It’ll be a tough choice for us whether to go level weights or wait for Ascot, we’ll make a decision nearer the time.”

Recent Cheltenham winner Calico and new recruit Harper’s Brook are among Dan Skelton’s entries, while course winner Martator and Djelo could run for Venetia Williams.