Ladbrokes Trophy betting

The Ladbrokes Trophy is a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles at Newbury in late November or early December. It was formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup and is one of the most prestigious handicap chases of the National Hunt season.

Ladbrokes Trophy betting regularly features potential Cheltenham Gold Cup horses. Famous past winners include Arkle (1964, 1965), One Man (1994), Denman (2007, 2009) and Bobs Worth (2012).

Ladbrokes Trophy betting tips

Around half of recent Ladbrokes Trophy winners had won on their previous outing. As this is the first major staying handicap chase of the season, a recent run is not always necessary. Many of the previous winners had been successful at Newbury in the past.

Winning form at three miles or over is a key factor when choosing your Ladbrokes Trophy bet. Most winners had at least three races at three miles or over, including at least one victory. It is possible for an inexperienced chaser to win this race but an official rating of 148 or higher is usually required.

Fulke Walwyn is the leading trainer in the history of the race with seven victories. These include the success of Mill House in 1963 who defeated Arkle in their first ever meeting.

Mill House won the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same year but would never beat his great rival again.

Irish-trained horses have a poor record in this race. There were plenty of Ladbrokes Trophy betting tips for Total Recall in 2017 when he became the first Irish trained winner since Bright Highway in 1980. Be My Royal finished first in 2002 but was subsequently disqualified after failing a drugs test.

Ladbrokes Trophy betting trends

Favourites have a mixed record in the Ladbrokes Trophy in recent years. Denman was a popular Ladbrokes Trophy tip for both of his victories. Bobs Worth (2012), Native River (2016) and Total Recall (2017) all started favourite.

There have also been some big priced winners in this race. Sibton Abbey was a 40-1 shot when winning here in 1992. Madison Du Berlais won at 25-1 in 2008, Triolo D’Alene started at 20-1 in 2013 and Sizing Tennessee was 12-1 in 2018.

Horses aged six to eight have the best record in this race. Denman was nine years old when winning his second Ladbrokes Trophy and Sizing Tennessee won at the age of ten in 2018.

Inaugural race winner Mandarin was later joined by Arkle and Denman as two-time winners. Arkle avenged his 1963 defeat by beating Mill House by five lengths in 1964.

The following year he defied 12st 7lbs and he then finished second to Stalbridge Colonist in 1966, narrowly failing to concede 35lbs.

Denman produced a brilliant display of jumping to win his first Ladbrokes Trophy in 2007. The win propelled him to the head of the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting.

He went on beat stable companion Kauto Star by seven lengths in the first big festival showdown between the Paul Nicholls trained superstars.

Denman was a popular Ladbrokes Trophy tip for his second success in 2009. He was racing off a handicap mark 13lbs higher but defied top weight to win comfortably. Both victories came without a recent run.

Ladbrokes Trophy ante-post betting pointers

Horses that ran in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham the previous season have a good record in this race. Trabolgan (2005), Denman (2007) and Bobs Worth (2012) all won both races. Ladbrokes Trophy winners are often aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Bregawn won for Michael Dickinson and Graham Bradley in 1982. He will always be remembered for leading home a remarkable first five for Dickinson in the 1983 Gold Cup.

Brown Chamberlin (1983) and Burrough Hill Lad (1984) both emerged as leading Gold Cup contenders and fought out the finish of the 1984 Gold Cup. Victory went to the latter, trained by Jenny Pitman.

Other horses to go on to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory include Denman, Bobs Worth and Native River. Many Clouds (2014) became the first winner of this race to go on and win the Aintree Grand National.

He won at Liverpool in 2015, but tragically died shortly after winning the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in 2017.

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Ladbrokes Trophy history and memorable winners

The race was first run at Cheltenham in 1957 as the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and was won by Mandarin. The race was transferred to Newbury in 1960 and Mandarin won it for a second time the following season.

Hennessy maintained their sponsorship of the race until 2016 when it became the Ladbrokes Trophy. It had been the longest running commercial sponsorship in British racing history.

The race has always produced top quality winners from Mill House and Arkle right through to Many Clouds and Native River.

Paul Nicholls has enjoyed success in this race, both as a jockey and as a trainer. He rode Broadheath (1986) and Playschool (1987) to victory, both trained by David Barons.

Nicholls had his first victory as a trainer in 2003 with the popular Ladbrokes Trophy bet Strong Flow, the 5-1 joint-favourite. He later won the race twice with Denman.

The brilliant grey One Man (1994) won for Gordon Richards and Tony Dobbin. He went on to win the King George VI Chase in 1995 and 1996 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1998.

Another popular grey to win here was Suny Bay (1997). He finished runner-up in the Aintree Grand National in 1997 and 1998.

The victory of Carruthers in 2011 was an emotional occasion for those who fondly remembered the late Lord Oaksey. He had ridden Taxidermist to victory back in 1958 and bred Carruthers. The gelding was trained by Oaksey’s son-in-law Mark Bradstock.

Ladbrokes Trophy betting 2019

The RSA Chase looked like a top-class renewal in 2019 and could have a big influence on the Ladbrokes Trophy odds. Topofthegame came out on top after a thrilling battle with Santini, the pair finishing less than 2 lengths clear of the favourite Delta Work.

Paul Nicholls was happy to make comparisons with Denman about a winner who had always looked destined to shine over fences. Runner-up Santini had suffered an interrupted preparation and was far from disgraced in second place.

Both Nicholls and Henderson have chosen this race as the ideal starting point for their leading chasers in the past. Mister Malarky was never able to get on terms with the leaders but finished an honourable fourth. He could pay his way in the top staying handicap chases.

Colin Tizzard has won this race with Native River and Sizing Tennessee in recent years and the Ladbrokes Trophy would certainly be a possibility for Mister Malarky.

Ms Parfois was fancied for this race in 2018 but faded to finish sixth. She later ran a fine race to finish second in the Midlands Grand National in March and should start the new season on a similar handicap mark.

Glen Rocco looked an exciting staying prospect when storming clear to win at Kempton Park in January. He disappointed in his next race off almost a stone higher mark but still has improvement in him.

Willie Mullins has targeted this race in recent seasons and is sure to have a strong entry again this year.

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