Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson on Ladbrokes Trophy teams
Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson both issued upbeat bulletins over their leading Ladbrokes Trophy contenders.
Willie Mullins reports Sky Bet's 9/2 favourite Total Recall to be "doing everything right" ahead of the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.
The feature handicap, formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, has not been won by an Irish-trained runner since 1980 when Michael O'Brien's Bright Highway was successful.
Total Recall was previously with Sandra Hughes, but upon her retirement was sent to Mullins and he absolutely bolted on his first run for the yard in the Munster National at Limerick, beating Alpha Des Obeaux, who recently won the Clonmel Oil Chase.
"He did one or two bits of work and it looked like his rating might be a little low with the type of work he was doing at home," said Mullins, referring to his Limerick win.
"A lot of things went his way and he won very handily at the end. You need a lot of luck in those races and he got it that day. He is doing everything right at home."
Total Recall won at Limerick off a mark of 129 and will race off 147 this weekend.
"I don't know whether the handicapper has caught up with him or not," said Mullins. "If the weights stay as they are it's a lovely racing weight. The trip won't be a problem and jumping won't be a problem, so he has a lot going for him."
Mullins is also set to run Childrens List and Pleasant Company.
Check out the early Ladbrokes Trophy fancies of @chamberlinsport @olibellracing @DaveOrd @BenColeyGolf @SkyBetShinners https://t.co/dvWlZPB8Q8 pic.twitter.com/onnspxYVjR
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) November 27, 2017
Nicky Henderson has won the race three times, most recently with Triolo D'Alene in 2013, and expects to saddle RSA Chase runner-up Whisper (7/1), the winner of a graduation chase at Kempton on his reappearance for which he carries a 4lb penalty.
"That was a good race at Kempton. I know it was a two-horse race, but there was not much in it. The extra trip will help him. It was exactly what we wanted to do," said Henderson of his recent win.
"The timing was right. It was nice to see Clan Des Obeaux (the other runner) win at Haydock. To be fair this horse has had a good time ever since. He schooled on Friday and we will give him one more pop and off we go."
Davy Russell rides most horses for owner Dai Walters and the pair have a good relationship.
"Davy gets on with this horse really well. He will already have an idea of where he is going to go and what he is going to do. He is a great jockey and is pretty cunning and he will have a plan," said Henderson.
"He has got the hang of this horse very swiftly. He lets him warm to it. He lets him warm up over the first few fences. You can't afford to be hunting around the back to get him through a few gears as the race will be gone. I think he has got enough experience of him now. His work was good on Saturday."
Henderson also runs Vyta Du Roc (14/1), but usual partner Daryl Jacob will be unable to do the weight of 10st 1lb if, as expected, top weight Coneygree runs.
"He had a run over hurdles at Aintree the same day Top Notch had a run and you saw how much good that did for him last Saturday (winning at Ascot)," said the champion trainer.
"I'm quietly hopeful that will put him exactly where he needs to be and if he comes back to the last day at Sandown last year where he was only beaten a nose, he might have a chance."
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