The Ladbrokes Trophy is the new name for the race that for 60-years was run as the Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup, which was the longest sponsorship deal in National Hunt Racing History. The race is a Grade 3 Handicap Chase which will take place over 3 miles 2½ furlongs at Newbury, and the field will have 21 fences to jump.
The winner will be joining a rich role of honour, but he will have to prove himself top-class if he is to follow in the footsteps of the 8 winners who have gone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which include Bobs Worth, Denman and dual-winner Arkle. However, the winner may also try and emulate the 2014 winner Many Clouds who also went on to win the Grand National.
Trends This Century
- Winners have been aged 6 to 9, with 7-year-olds providing 8 of the 17 winners
- 11 of the last 14 winners have carried more than 11-0
- Nicky Henderson has trained 3 of the last 12 winners
- Paul Nicholls has trained 2 of the last 10 winners
- Barry Geraghty has ridden 2 of the last 5 winners
Major Contenders
Total Recall
Already won a sizeable chunk of the sponsor’s money this season by winning the Ladbrokes Munster National and, as he won that race by an eased-down 7-lengths, it’s no surprise he’s favourite here. That was also his first run for Willie Mullins, and he could easily improve enough to give the Irish Champion Trainer his first win in this race.
American
Another trainer who’ll be hoping to win the race for the first time is Harry Fry, and his 7-year-old looks tailormade for this race after winning all 3 of chase starts last season. This will be a big step-up in class, but Fry has stated that this is the big-target for this fragile but talented sort.
Singlefarmpayment
Big scopey 7-year-old who has been well-fancied on his last two starts in Cheltenham Handicaps. Not disgraced in finishing second in both of those races, but keeps going up in the handicap, and needs to prove he goes as well at Newbury as he does at Cheltenham.
Whisper
Ran some great races last season, and the only horse that beat him was his high-class stablemate Might Bite. He’s also had plenty of experience of the big-stage, as he was a top-class hurdler who has won at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, and he won his only previous start at Newbury. Proved his well-being with a win in a 2-runner race on his seasonal debut.
Acapella Bourgeois
Looked an absolute monster when winning his first two chases by wide margins on soft and heavy ground, but looked nothing like the same horse at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. However, like Total Recall, he has since been sent to Willie Mullins – and he could be a serious tool if Mullins has managed to improve him as much as that one. He also slammed the likes of Our Duke and American over hurdles.
Coneygree
The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner was all the rage on his comeback in the Charlie Hall Chase, but went wrong after jumping poorly at a fence after being blinded by the low sun. That puts his participation in doubt, but could provide a bold front-running performance at a venue where he is 2 from 2 over fences, if he recovers in time.
Our Betting Tip for the Ladbrokes Trophy Horse Racing 2017
This is usually a thrilling contest, and this year’s leading protagonists comes in all shapes and sizes. There’s the experienced Whisper, the top-class Coneygree, and the fragile American, but it could be Willie Mullins who is holding a pair of aces in Total Recall and Acapella Bourgeois. However, as Total Recall has already caught the eye, I’m more inclined to side with the potential of Acapella Bourgeois, who could yet prove Gold Cup class.
Tip: Acapella Bourgeois