Saturday 27th November 2021

Author: Jordan Yates (@EvRacing_)

“A warm welcome to this week’s preview where my focus turns to Newbury and in particular, the Ladbrokes Trophy. Formerly known as the “Hennessy”, the Grade 3 Handicap Chase is set to take place at 3:00pm and will be contested over a distance of three miles and two furlongs. I was successful in the race last year as followers of the page will remember that I put Cloth Cap up who won the race well at 9/1 and was consequently propelled to the top of the Grand National market. I’ll be hoping for more of the same this time around.”

I’m just going to dive straight in with my fancies for this year’s renewal of the race, as I’m having two arrows at the field here. It’s last week’s winning team of Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore that are responsible for my first fancy, and that’s Eklat De Rire who’s currently trading at a best price of 9/2. This seven-year-old arrives here having won five of his seven starts to date, and kicked his season off with a Listed success at Wexford last month where he won comfortably by over four lengths. He was also a Grade 3 winner last season when beating Escaria Ten at Naas and I think he has a big future ahead of him for his powerhouse connections. Whether he’s battle hardened enough for a race of this nature remains to be seen but if rising to the challenge he’s got more than enough ability to have a major say.

It’s another Irish horse who makes up my duo, and that’s the Willie Mullins trained Annamix who’s the mount of talented claimer Jack Foley. This horse is an eight-year-old and sports the famous pink and green Ricci silks which we have seen carried to success in pretty much every big race in the National Hunt calender. Currently trading at a pretty sizeable 25/1 I think he could well prove to be considerably overpriced here, and I believe he’s got every chance of outrunning said odds. He was last seen at Punchestown in a Grade 3 last month where he finished a half-length behind Galvin which is pretty solid form, he’s not been the most reliable throughout his career as he was very highly regarded in his younger days, however, he’s proven he can be very competitive in big field handicaps. Back in September he finished third of eighteen in the Kerry National at Listowel off just a four-pound lower mark, and with Foley’s five-pound claim coming into play here I think he’s every chance of being involved.