Ladbrokes Trophy tips: Horse by horse guide from Stuart Williams

3.00 Newbury - Ladbrokes Trophy Chase (Grade 3) 3m1f214y

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BALLYOPTIC

Winner of the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last season, Ballyoptic was as good as ever in 2019/20, signing off for the season with a fine weight-carrying performance at Ascot in February.

Pulled-up in this year's renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase, the tough-as-teak ten-year-old could easily improve for that outing. However, he remains 5lbs above the mark from which scored at Ascot in February, and he is undoubtedly vulnerable to improving young rivals.

VINNDICATION

A high class performer when granted his ideal conditions, Vinndication found only the highest rated horse in training Cyrname too good when placing second in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month, and he demonstrated his ability to carry big weights when placing fourth in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

In spite of his solid efforts at both Wetherby and Cheltenham, it's fair to say that Vinndication is perhaps seen to best effect on right-handed tracks, and he certainly didn't impress in the jumping stakes when schooling at Newbury last week.

Soft ground is also advantageous for the seven-year-old, who undoubtedly possesses the class to make his presence felt. However, it is hard to concede such chunks of weight in less than ideal conditions, therefore others make more appeal.

SECRET INVESTOR

Secret Investor was handed a 9lbs rise following comfortable 7 lengths success on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow, and that form looks solid as the runner-up, namely Potterman, was narrowly denied in a photo finish to the Badger Beers Trophy at Wincanton earlier this month.

Paul Nicholls eight-year-old was allowed to dictate matters at Chepstow and he won't be given such and easy time here. The extra two furlongs are also a cause for concern, and he would need to be verging on Grade 1 class in order to defy a mark of 159 in such competitive company.

BEWARE THE BEAR

Fourth in each of the last two renewals of this race, Beware The Bear will line up off the very same mark as he did 12 months ago, and he enjoyed a racecourse gallop at Newbury last week, which will have blows away the cobwebs.

The experienced son of Shantou is accustomed to carrying big weights in competitive handicap company, and he defied a 7lbs lower mark at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival when landing the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase. Therefore he possesses the requisite ability to make his presence felt once more.

KILDISART

Kildisart was a neck behind The Conditional at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and he will look to reverse that form on 3lbs better terms.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned eight-year-old remains 7lbs above his last winning mark, when defeating subsequent Grade 3 scorers Mister Malarky and Oldgrangewood at Aintree in April 2019. However, he has clearly demonstrated his liking for big field handicaps and he tuned-up for this race with a perfectly respectable third placed effort in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby. He will make many shortlists.

COPPERHEAD

Colin Tizzard's bold-jumping chestnut was a revelation last season, landing back-to-back handicaps at Wincanton and Newbury - the latter victory coming in the Mandarin Handicap Chase over this course and distance - prior to an impressive 17 lengths victory in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot.

Copperhead defeated previous Grade 2 scorers Two For Gold, Danny Whizzbang and Sam Brown at Ascot, and he was sent off a relatively well fancied 6/1 chance for the RSA Chase in March, where he fell when beaten at the last.

In all fairness, the Tizzard runners simply didn't fire at Cheltenham and his profile is otherwise deeply progressive. However, he stopped very quickly on his return to action at Wetherby last month, which is a cause for concern.

REGAL ENCORE

As good as ever at the ripe old age of twelve, Regal Encore advertised the benefits of wind surgery when making a successful seasonal reappearance in the Grade 3 Sodexo Good Cup at Ascot last month, and he is only 1lb higher than when placing third in this race in 2017.

That said, his overall form figures in this race read P3P, and he will have to defy a 6lbs rise in order to plunder this prize.

AYE RIGHT

Third, beaten just 7 lengths, in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month, Harriet Graham's stable star has been aimed at this contest and could be very well treated off a mark of 150.

Second behind subsequent Grade 2 Old Roan Chase scorer Nuts Well over a trip shorter than ideal on his seasonal reappearance at Kelso, Aye Right could only place fifth in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but he should be much better suited by the demands of Newbury and he remains open to significant improvement this winter.

MISTER MALARKY

Fifth in this race 12 months ago off the same mark of 150, Colin Tizzard's stout stayer defied a 3lbs lower mark in the Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Kempton in February, and he made a perfectly respectable return to action when sixth in the Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot.

A Grade 2 winner as a novice, Mister Malarky often improves for his seasonal reappearance and his yard have finally started to hit top gear after an uncharacteristically slow start to the jumps season proper. Therefore he could easily outrun his price.

BLACK OP

Black Op has been called many names over the years, but he remains lightly raced for his age and does boast form that puts him firmly in contention for a race such as this, including a runner-up effort behind subsequent RSA Chase winner Champ at this very meeting last year, and another silver medal effort behind Slate House in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase last December.

Tom George's son of Sandmason chased home Santini in a Grade 2 over hurdles and he is definitely seen to best effect on galloping tracks. A mark of 150 looks firm but fair, especially as he remains open to improvement over staying trips.

TWO FOR GOLD

Two For Gold quickly developed into a smart novice chaser last season, winning at Carlisle, Kelso and Warwick respectively prior to placing second in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot.

Kim Bailey's bold jumping seven-year-old defeated subsequent Cheltenham Festival third Hold The Note in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick in February, and he made a pleasing return to action at Wetherby last month when second behind a well handicapped rival over a trip short of his best.

This stamina sapping trip on a galloping track should prove ideal conditions for the Gold Well gelding, and he has scope for further improvement off a mark of 148.

THE CONDITIONAL

Second in this race last year off a 10lbs lower mark, The Conditional proved to be a hugely progressive chaser last winter, winning twice at Cheltenham including the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

David Bridgwater's eight-year-old, who also placed fourth in the Grade 3 Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick in February, had two runs under his belt before running so well in this contest 12 months ago, however, he is yet to be seen this season, which is a slight cause for concern. That said, he is another year older and he may well have benefitted from a nice long summer break, therefore he may have further scope for progression.

LA BAGUE AU ROI

A high class mare at her peak, La Bague Au Roi landed a brace of Grade 1 victories as a novice, including a debut defeat of subsequent Grade 1 a smart success of that season RSA Chase hero Topofthegame and last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Santini in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton.

However, the Warren Greatrex's trained mare, who also notched a debut success over subsequent Grade 1 winner Lostintranslation on her chasing decent at Newbury, is without a success since the second of those Grade 1 victories at Leopardstown in February 2019, and she will need to improve greatly upon her most recent effort when a well beaten fifth in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

DANNY WHIZZBANG

A Grade 2 winner at this meeting last year, Danny Whizzbang failed make his presence felt in graded company thereafter and could only place seventh of thirteen when sent off a well supported 4/1 favourite for the Listed Badger Beers Chase at Wincanton earlier this month.

The Getaway gelding will compete from the same mark of 145 on Saturday and will need to take a big step forwards in order to be competitive.

THE HOLLOW GINGE

The Hollow Ginge won two of his six outings as a novice last season, which culminated in a pulled-up effort in the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The hardy Oscar gelding had subsequent Cheltenham Festival scorer The Conditional back in third when making a successful chasing debut at Worcester in September 2019, and he also performed with credit when attempting to concede 5lbs to subsequent Kim Muir Challenge Cup fourth Plan Of Attack at Aintree.

Horse and jockey parted ways at the first fence on his return to action at Kelso last month. However, he could outperform market expectations if maintaining the partnership on Saturday.

POTTERMAN

The good ground loving Potterman was narrowly denied in a photo finish to the Listed Badger Beers Trophy at Wincanton earlier this month, and he could go well off the same mark (5lbs well in) if encountering suitable conditions.

The James and Jean Potter owned seven-year-old boasts form-figures of 152122 over trips in excess of two-miles-and-seven-furlongs, and all 8 of his previous career victories have been achieved on good ground. Therefore connections will hoping that the rain stays away.

ARDLETHEN

Fifth behind Saturday's Ascot Grade 2 scorer Imperial Aura on his return to action at Carlisle in October, Ardlethen achieved a respectable level of form in novice company last winter, including a runner-up effort in Grade 2 company at Wetherby, and a mid-division finish in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Dan Skelton's charge lowered the colours of subsequent Stayers Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar on his chasing debut at Chepstow last season, and he should strip much fitter for his seasonal reappearance. However, this is by far his toughest assignment to date, and he will need to improve significantly to feature.

CLOTH CAP

2019 Scottish Grand National third Cloth Cap placed eighth in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and the Trevor Hemmings owned eight-year-old will strip fitter for his third placed outing at Cheltenham last month.

Third off this mark at Ascot last November, Cloth Cap beat all bar the mighty Frodon and the consistent West Approach at Prestbury Park last month, when encountering his preferred ground conditions. Should the rain stay away, he would hold place claims off his current rating.

Verdict

Copperhead would appreciate a drop of rain and looks tailor-made for a race such as this if bouncing back to form after an admittedly concerning return to action. Kim Bailey is enjoying a fine autumn campaign and his promising Two For Gold looks nicely treated off a mark of 148. Black Op jumped these fences well when chasing home subsequent RSA Chase hero Champ at this meeting 12 months ago, and he too looks fairly handicapped off a mark of 150.

However, it is hard to ignore just how well AYE RIGHT performed against seasoned opposition in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, and the form of his penultimate start at Kelso also reads well after the winner went on to land the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

Harriet Graham's seven-year-old is open to significant improvement after just five starts over fences and he won't be inconvenienced by whatever the weather may do. He jumps well and is viewed as a future Scottish Grand National horse, therefore he should relish this test of stamina.

Of those at bigger prices, Beware The Bear looked in good heart when galloping at Newbury last week and could hit the frame once more, while Potterman boasts a progressive profile and could outperform market expectations if the rain stays away.