15:00 Newbury

Saturday 2 December 2017

All12:1012:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Ladbrokes Trophy Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)

Off time: 15:04 | Winning time: 6m 29.00s

Coneygree²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| OR: 165| BF| C| D

12/1

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in March 2015 but lightly raced since with best effort coming when third over an extended 3m at Punchestown (good-to-yielding) in April. Pulled up on his return to action at Wetherby (soft) and carrying top weight today.

Form: 111/23-P

Whisper¹⁹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: N J Henderson| OR: 157| C

7/1

Twice finished second in Grade 1 novice chase contests last spring including when beaten a nose over an extended 3m at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in March. Winner of a match over an extended 2m4f on seasonal debut last month.

Form: 8/1122-1

American²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 157

11/2

Progressive novice last season winning all three outings over fences including a novice handicap contest at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in March. Shapes as if he'll appreciate the extra distance today and is one for the shortlist following a 9lb rise.

Form: 316/111-

Carole's Destrier³⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 154

20/1

Useful stayer on his day finishing runner-up in this contest off a 6lb lower mark in 2016. Unraced since disappointing in the Welsh National at Chepstow (soft) over an extended 3m5f last December. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 51P0/29-

Label Des Obeaux^p1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 153

25/1

Successful three times last season and made a satisfactory return to action when third to Might Bite over 3m at Sandown (good-to-soft) last month. Races off a mark 5lb higher than when winning at Ayr (good) in April.

Form: 1101-83

A Genie In Abottle³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 152

8/1

Irish raider finished third in a Grade 1 in the spring. Chasing a hat-trick following a win at Galway (soft) and in a Listed chase at Wexford (2m7f, soft). Represents leading connections today and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 1253-11

Regal Encore^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 150

50/1

Well held in three starts since winning a Listed handicap chase at Ascot (3m, good-to-soft) nearly a year ago. Races off a mark 6lb higher than for that success.

Form: PP1P8-0

Royal Vacation^b,t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 149

16/1

Yard won this race last year but pulled up on final two starts of last season and finished a well beaten third on his seasonal debut at Wetherby over an extended 2m3f a month ago. Needs to return to form if he's to take this contest.

Form: 311PP-3

Pleasant Company^h²³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

20/1

Winner of a heavy ground 3m1f chase at Fairyhouse in February. Finished a respectable ninth in the Grand National subsequently and represents a leading stable today.

Form: 3P/1419-

Total Recall⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147

9/2

Made a winning debut for this yard in the Munster National at Limerick (3m, soft) two months ago. Wouldn't be the first horse to improve markedly for joining this yard and is a leading contender despite an 18lb rise in the weights.

Form: 4U105-1

Singlefarmpayment^h³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 147

7/1

Beaten a short-head over 3m1f at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in March and ran a good trial for this race when second over the same C&D at the end of October. Interesting to see how he fares off a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 321B2-2

Double Ross²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 147| BF

33/1

Handicap chase winner at Chepstow (good) over an extended 2m7f in October last year. Held in 2017 renewal of that contest and unseated early on at Sandown latest.

Form: P/153-4U

Present Man^t²¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryony Le Clerc⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

14/1

Chasing a hat-trick of wins under today's useful conditional jockey with the latest of those coming in a Listed handicap chase over 3m1f at Wincanton (soft) last month. Carries a 4lb penalty for that success and is likely to run well once more.

Form: 141P-11

Missed Approach^b1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 145| C

25/1

Disappointing in two starts since finishing runner-up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham (4m, good-to-soft) in March. Wears blinkers for the first time today.

Form: 13U28-P

Bigbadjohn¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 144| C

33/1

Four time winner including in a Grade 2 novice chase at Ascot (soft) in February. Struggled in three starts since and more needed if he's to register a victory today.

Form: 2S1P-U7

Vyta Du Roc²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140

10/1

Finished sixth in this race last year and beaten a head in a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown (3m5f, good) in April. Prepped for this race in a handicap hurdle at Aintree (soft) last month and is an interesting runner today.

Form: 36P52-5

Braqueur D'Or²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

33/1

Successful three times over fences including on good-to-firm ground at Ludlow over 3m last month. Since finished a decent third in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot (3m, good). Races off the same mark today and has run well over this trip in the past.

Form: 132213

Cogry^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 139| D

16/1

Finished runner-up in the 4m Scottish Grand National at Ayr (good) in April and made the best possibly return to action when winning over 3m1f at Cheltenham (good) in October. Interesting to see how he fares off a 6lb higher mark.

Form: P3622-1

Potters Legend^b1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: B S Hughes| T: L Wadham| OR: 138| BF

33/1

Finished fourth over 3m at Bangor (soft) on his most recent outing last month but generally held in competitive handicaps since leaving novice company last year. Races from out of the handicap with blinkers added today.

Form: 4244-74

Southfield Royale^b1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 138

25/1

Disappointing since finishing fourth over 4m at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in March 2016 and needs to improve on his recent showings with blinkers worn for the first time racing from out of the handicap having disappointed on seasonal debut.

Form: 4/70F0-P

Pilgrims Bay^p,h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 137

33/1

Victorious in a Grade 3 handicap chase at Kempton (3m, good) in February but well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival subsequently. Fair effort when sixth at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) on seasonal debut last month and races from out of the handicap today.

Form: F2310-6

Forecasts

Total Recall (9/2), American (11/2), Whisper (7/1), Singlefarmpayment (7/1), A Genie In Abottle (8/1), Vyta Du Roc (10/1), Coneygree (12/1), Present Man (14/1), Royal Vacation (16/1), Cogry (16/1), Carole's Destrier (20/1), Pleasant Company (20/1), Missed Approach (25/1), Label Des Obeaux (25/1), Southfield Royale (25/1), Braqueur D'Or (33/1), Pilgrims Bay (33/1), Potters Legend (33/1), Bigbadjohn (33/1), Double Ross (33/1), Regal Encore (50/1)

SINGLEFARMPAYMENT ran a good trial for this race when finishing runner-up in a decent contest at Cheltenham last time out and he can take this for trainer Tom George who has his horses in decent form at present (4/19). American was a progressive novice last season and he can claim second as he chases a four-timer on today's seasonal debut while Total Recall who looked a vastly improved performer when winning a valuable event at Limerick last time out is taken to finish third today.