2021 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Betting Tips

Cloth Cap was the most recent winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy, with the eight-year-old being one of the lowest-rated runners in this race. Jonjo O’Neill saddled the winner in 2020, with De Rasher Counter and Sizing Tennessee having been previous victors and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

There are several horses currently entered who are unlikely to end up running, although Enrilo and Next Destination are the runners who currently head the betting with bookmaker Coral, with the former running for Paul Nicholls and has previously won the race with Denman and Strong Flow.

Are Enrilo and Next Destination Good Each-Way Bets?

Enrilo is a horse that has previously run well at Newbury Racecourse, with the Nicholls runner having won a Handicap Chase in February, with the charge being sent off at 2/1 favourite. Harry Skelton was on board in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase and the horse was the first past the post, although the overall result was disqualification which meant that Enrilo finished third in the end.

Next Destination is another Paul Nicholls runner which means that this trainer has strong claims and the horse ran strongly in the Sam Vestey National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Chase on 16 March 2021. On that occasion, the horse finished second to Galvin, with this horse having previously landed the spoils in the Ladbrokes John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury.

Who Are the Other Horses to Watch in Ladbrokes Trophy?

Aye Right runs for little known trainer Harriet Graham, with the horse having finished third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. The runner then went to Ayr to compete favourably in the Scottish Grand National and we should see this charge run prominently.

Lieutenant Rocco has switched trainer from Nick Mitchell to Ralph J Smith, with the horse having previously scored at Ffos Las in early February, with the horse needing to show some better form than we’ve seen over the past few years.

Which Horses is Betting Favourite for the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy?

Topofthegame is the only horse trading at single figure odds at the time of writing and it’s easy to see why this runner is the market leader. The eight-year-old has plenty of experience in the big races and was at his sparkling best when winning the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.

The Paul Nicholls-trained charge then finished second in the Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase a month later at Aintree, although the horse hasn’t been seen since that run, having not made an appearance during the 2019/20 season due to a leg injury although there’s no denying his obvious class.

Should a fit Topofthegame appear for the Ladbrokes Trophy, he could be the horse to beat and trainer Nicholls certainly has the knowhow in this race after previously saddling the legendary Denman to victory on two different occasions.

Can Champ or Copperhead Topple Topofthegame?

The 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy is shaping up to be a classy renewal of this race, with Champ another high-class horse who won the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, with the eight-year-old producing an amazing victory after storming up the hill to overtake Allaho and Minella Indo on the run-in.

The Nicky Henderson horse is likely to have Barry Geraghty on board again and won twice at Newbury last season after obliging as a short priced favourite in a Beginners’ Chase before taking another success in a Grade 2 race over two miles and four furlongs.

Copperhead is another smart runner who could line up in the Ladbrokes Trophy and the Colin Tizzard horse fell in the RSA when Champ stormed to victory, with the horse being much-fancied before the race and that encounter had been preceded by three straight wins at Wincanton, Newbury and Ascot.

The History of the Ladbrokes Trophy

The Ladbrokes Trophy has been in operation for several decades and it was inaugurated in 1957, with Mandarin the first ever winner. This horse was trained by Fulke Walwyn who remains the most successful trainer when it comes to this race after scoring seven victories throughout the history.

This race used to be known as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and originally took place at Cheltenham Racecourse, with the encounter being transferred to Newbury in 1960 to be part of the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival. Many Cheltenham Gold Cup winners have gone on from winning this race to triumph in the big one at the Cheltenham Festival and that includes Welsh horse Native River.

In addition to Mandarin’s two successes, Arkle and Denman are the other runners who have landed a double in the Ladbrokes Trophy.

With the heavy rainfall that has taken place in the United Kingdom over the past few weeks, it makes the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase an interesting prospect considering that the race is over such a long distance.

The race takes place at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 30 November, with heavy ground over three miles and two furlongs likely to play into the hands of the horses who are able to stay such a long trip.

Mister Malarkey could tick plenty of boxes and the horse rightfully takes his place at the head of the betting market. William Hill have this runner available at odds of 10/1 although other firms have shortened up a horse who has already produced a series of impressive performances.

The six-year-old is trained by Colin Tizzard who will be hoping that the horse produces a strong run and this looks like a good idea of an each-way bet considering that you will get paid out if the horse finishes in the first four places.

The horse has bags of experience and finished a creditable fourth place in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, with the runner outrunning his odds of 20/1 to travel home behind Topofthegame, Santini and Delta Work.

The horse went off a lot shorter at Aintree when finishing second behind Kildisart and this currently looks like the one to beat.

However, it’s going to be a tough old slog at Newbury and Cabaret Queen runs for Willie Mullins and looks like a horse that could travel well in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase.

There have already been a couple of outings for this National Hunt season, with the horse finishing second at Listowel before heading to Limerick in the middle of October and landing a victory in a field of sixteen runners.

Champagne Classic is another classy runner and the good thing about this Gordon Elliott-trained charge is that he’s notched successive victories already this season and will be bidding for a hat-trick victory.

It’s often hard to marry up Irish form compared to British form, although the eight-year-old scooped the spoils at Fairyhouse in early October before recording another win at Wexford.

Nicky Henderson has several potential runners in this race and the ace trainer will be pinning his hopes on Ok Corral, with the nine-year-old having bags of experience compared to several of the other horses in the race.

On The Blind Side also has a decent rating although Diablo De Rouhet looks more the part this season and that runner can be backed at 20/1.

Willie Mullins has Real Steel and Chef Des Obeaux potentially in contention and Gordon Elliott is also likely to send Borice to the race who is bidding for a fourth consecutive win of the season.