Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Trends, Contenders and Verdict
By
Gavin Beech
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4 mins
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The Ladbrokes Trophy Chase is one of the showpiece occasions of the British National Hunt horse racing season. The three-mile two-furlong Grade 3 steeplechase is known to many as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup after a 60-year association with Hennessy which ended in 2016.
The Ladbrokes Trophy Chase is nearly always one of the most competitive betting races in the jumps season and the 2021 edition is shaping up to be as hotly-contested as ever. Here’s our guide to the Newbury feature.
2021 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Details
- Date: Saturday, November 27
- Course: Newbury
- Status: Grade 3 Handicap
- Distance: 3m 2f
- Age: 4yo+
- Prize fund: £250,000 (£142,375 to the winner)
- Live on: ITV and RacingTV at 3pm
2021 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Key Ten-Year-Trends
- 10/10 winners had won at least two chases
- 10/10 winners were NOT novices
- 10/10 winners had NOT won the race previously
- 9/10 winners aged 6-8
- 9/10 winners had run at least four times over 3m+
- 9/10 winners were trained in England
- 9/10 winners were not wearing headgear
- 8/10 had not previously fallen in a chase under rules
- 8/10 winners had won at least once over 3m+
- 7/10 winners sent off 7/1 or bigger
- 6/10 winners carried at least 11st
Key Trials for the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase
Ladbrokes Trophy Chase winners tend to be proven in the hurly burly of a big field handicap where the ability to get into a nice rhythm and jump economically is paramount.
Ladbrokes Trophy Chase winners can often be high-class hurdlers making their way up the chasing ladder, although not in their first season over the bigger obstacles so look out for horses that ran in graded company over the smaller obstacles.
2020 winner Cloth Cap ran in a 3m1f handicap chase at Cheltenham's October meeting on his previous outing but 2019 winner De Rasher Counter was given a spin over hurdles in order to protect his chase mark.
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Trainer Trends
Nicky Henerson and Paul Nicholls have both won the Ladbrokes trophy Chase three times since the turn of the century, although neither have won it since 2013.
Colin Tizzard has won two of the last five editions of the Grade 3 chase.
Willie Mullins (2017) is the only Irish-based trainer to win the race this century.
Jockey Trends
Tom Scudamore is the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase jockey of the moment, winning two of the last three renewals (also won it in 2008).
Ben Jones, who steered De Rasher Counter to success in 2019, is the only amateur rider to have won the race in recent times.
2021 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Main Contenders
Ontheropes - Only won one of six chases which is a real negative on the trends but looks significant that he is heading to Newbury having won the Munster National on his previous start, which is exactly the path Willie Mullins took with his 2017 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase winner, Total Recall.
Eklat De Rire - Lightly-raced chaser who could easily be well treated off 154. Only defeat in four starts over fences came when unseating rider in a Grade 1 novices’ chase at 2021 Cheltenham Festival and his future looks certain to be in graded company. Fascinating contender.
Fiddlerontheroof - Kept good company as a novice and he landed Carlisle's Intermediate Chase on return which has been won by some very smart chasers, including Many Clouds, who went on to Ladbrokes Trophy Chase glory that same season. Connections appear to think that he’s well enough treated off 150.
Enrilo - Finished just in front of Potterman and Kitty’s Light in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April but was disqualified and placed third after hanging left and interfering with his rivals up the hill. 4lb higher on return but second-season chasers have a good record in this and he’s already a winner at this track. Paul Nicholls knows what is required to win this race.
Kitty’s Light - Stays this trip well and likes a sound surface so conditions will be in his favour. Quite experienced over fences now but fact remains that no 5-year-old has ever won this race.
Potterman - Five-time winner over fences and strong record on good ground but will need a career best effort to defy a mark of 150.
Cloth Cap - Ten-length winner of this race in 2020 but couldn’t justify his position as a well-backed Grand National favourite and was pulled up before three out. Had wind operation over the summer and encouraging return at Cheltenham but is 18lb higher than 12 months ago and only the great Denman has won this race more than once since 1965.
Remastered - Needs rain because best form is all on testing ground, including when dishing out a 4-length defeat of Demachine in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot last term. Not seen over fences since proving a bit disappointing behind Galvin in last season’s National Hunt Chase but could easily be ahead of his mark and stable have won this race twice in recent years.
Copperhead - Career took off in 2019 where he ran away with a C&D handicap chase before falling at the final fence (beaten at time) in RSA Chase. Career has gone off the rails in the last couple of years and barely sighted when pulling up in this race last year but reportedly working well ahead of this comeback and has the ability to go well if anywhere near his best.
2021 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Betting
4 Ontheropes, 5 Fiddlerontheroof, 11/2 Enrilo, 6 Eklat De Rire, 10 Kitty's Light, 12 Demachine, Cloth Cap, Remastered, Potterman, 16 Copperhead, Annamix, 20 One More Fleurie, Danny Whizzbang, Chris's Dream, The Hollow Ginge, Brahma Bull, 33 Mister Malarky, Canelo, Cloudy Glen, Full Back, 50 Brave Eagle, Fortescue*.(odds correct at time of writing)
2021 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Verdict
A wide open betting heat and plenty of viable options. This year's Irish raiding party looks strong and it would be no surprise whatsoever to see Eklat De Rire shoot in given his profile.
However, Paul Nicholls knows what is required to win this race and Enrilo looks just the type to step up again this term. He is already a winner at this track and connections are adamant that it was greenness that led to him throwing away last year’s bet365 Chase. He’s a sound jumper that travels well and that ability to line up handy will serve him well. He rates a strong each-way chance.
Recent Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Winners
- 2020 Cloth Cap (9/1)
- 2019 De Rasher Counter (12/1)
- 2018 Sizing Tennessee (12/1)
- 2017 Total Recall (9/2F)
- 2016 Native River (7/2F)
- 2015 Smad Place (7/1)
- 2014 Many Clouds (8/1)
- 2013 Triolo D'Alene (20/1)
- 2012 Bobs Worth (4/1F)
- 2011 Carruthers (10/1)
A veteran of two decades in the sports journalism industry, Gavin Beech is a very experienced horse racing writer, sports betting content producer and tipster for the likes of MailOnline, Gambling.com and the Racing Post. Not restricted to racing, he also writes about football.
