Thistlecrack heads 2018 Ladbrokes Trophy weights at Newbury
Thistlecrack heads the weights for the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on December 1 after the weights were unveiled on Wednesday.
The 2016 King George winner has been off the track since his defeat to Might Bite in his attempted defence of his Kempton crown and missed his intended reappearance at Wetherby over the weekend.
He’s a 20/1 chance with Sky Bet who make his stablemate, Elegant Escape 10/1 second favourite behind Terrefort (8/1).
Terrefort (Nicky Henderson) has been allotted 11st 5lb after winning G1 novices' chases at Sandown Park and Aintree last season.
The progressive grey chaser was successful on his one previous start in handicap company in the UK when taking a novices' handicap chase at Huntingdon in January and, if successful on December 1, would be the first five-year-old to win the Ladbrokes Trophy. He is set to reappear at Sandown Park this Sunday, November 11.
Henderson, the champion jump trainer based just north of Lambourn, is seeking a fourth Ladbrokes Trophy success and could also run Vyta Du Roc (10st 8lb), Janika (10st 6lb), Beware The Bear (10st 9lb).
The weights for the Ladbrokes Trophy @NewburyRacing have been released...
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Alan King saddled the popular grey Smad Place to a famous victory in the 2015 Ladbrokes Trophy and has two entries this year, headed by Dingo Dollar (10st 9lb). The six-year-old improved last season, with his two successes over fences including an impressive 15-length victory in a novices' handicap chase at Newbury in December, when he had subsequent Scottish Grand National winner Joe Farrell back in third.
Wiltshire-based King said: "Dingo Dollar is in in good form at home and we are looking to head for the Ladbrokes Trophy.
"We would like to get one run in beforehand and he is declared to run at Newbury tomorrow (Thursday, November 8) over hurdles before the Ladbrokes Trophy.
"He is a nice horse who doesn't want the ground to be too soft and I think he could be a Scottish National horse in the long-term."
Another trainer to have already landed the Ladbrokes Trophy is David Pipe, who saddled Madison Du Berlais to a 25/1 success in 2008.
The Nicholashayne handler is considering this year's Ladbrokes Trophy for Un Temps Pour Tout (11st 5lb). The nine-year-old landed back-to-back successes in the G3 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but has not been seen out since his second victory in that contest in March, 2017.
Pipe revealed: "Un Temps Pour Tout is back and we are looking forward to this season with him.
"He missed last year through injury and we are hoping to have a full season with him this time around.
"He will be entered in the Grand National as his long term target and other long-distance chases will be on his agenda.
"He is entered in the Ladbrokes Trophy and the race is a possibility at the moment."
Somerset-based Paul Nicholls has saddled the winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy three times, headed by the great Denman in 2007 and 2009.
The 10-time champion jump trainer has six entries this year including Black Corton (11st 4lb, 33/1), who was second on his eventful seasonal reappearance in the G2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on November 3, when his rider Bryony Frost made an amazing recovery to stay in the saddle after a mistake.
Nicholls reported: "Black Corton ran well behind Definitly Red in the Charlie Hall Chase. The winner was rated 11lb higher, so our horse ran a really good, solid race.
"I would have preferred to be upsides turning in rather than two lengths behind, but I supposed he got a bit out of rhythm, but it was a good sit by Bryony.
"The Wetherby race was a step up in class to what he was running in last year and he ran well.
"Black Corton (won eight last races season) won't find it as easy as last season as it is a bit of a different ball game - he was able to boss around horses that he was better than.
"We will look at something like the Ladbrokes Trophy with him."
There is a scratchings deadline for the £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy on Tuesday, November 13, details of which will be revealed that afternoon.
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