Prices are likely to fall away based on the outcome of Saturday’s race at Newbury.
The Ladbrokes Trophy is attracting plenty of attention from punters this week. The highlight at Newbury on Saturday afternoon could provide insight into some potential contenders for big prizes next year. With previously fancied Kemboy ruled out and the much talked about Terrefort disappointing on his reappearance, three front runners have emerged in the market.
Though they’re outsiders at the moment, the result of the race will almost certainly cause shifts in the major ante-post markets. The current leaders are all priced up for both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National.
We’ve taken a look at each of the Ladbrokes Trophy market leaders and where they currently sit in the running for those two races. There are some big price differences between the bookies at the moment…
ELEGANT ESCAPE
6/1 to win Ladbrokes Trophy – 7.8% of bets in the last week
Colin Tizzard’s gelding currently leads the market for the Ladbrokes Trophy on Saturday. Beating another contender, Thomas Patrick, impressively on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown earlier this month saw him shoot to the top of the pack.
The six-year-old won a race on this card last year, fending off Black Corton, and finished third behind Terrefort and Ms Parfois in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree at the close of last season. The Tizzards won the Ladbrokes Trophy in 2016 with Native River, a horse that went on to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup at last year’s festival. Many think this chaser could also be aimed at one of the big races in the spring and a big performance on Saturday will surely cause ante-post prices to crash.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Best price 40/1
Worst price 33/1
Grand National
Best price 40/1
Worst price 25/1
THOMAS PATRICK
9/2 to win Ladbrokes Trophy – 12.7% of bets in the last week
Second favourite to land the Ladbrokes Trophy, Thomas Patrick was half a length behind Elegant Escape at Sandown last time out on ground that did not suit him. Success in the Newbury highlight could come down to the amount of rainfall before Saturday afternoon.
The Tom Lacey-trained gelding won at Newbury towards the end of last season before following up with a landmark victory in the Betway Handicap Chase at Aintree. A proven stayer, connections expect more from the six-year-old this season and a win this weekend would lay down a marker for the future.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Best price 66/1
Worst price 40/1
Grand National
Best price 40/1
Worst price 25/1
MS PARFOIS
5/1 to win Ladbrokes Trophy – 14.26% of bets in last week
Closely behind the front two in the running for the Ladbrokes Trophy, Ms Parfois is yet to be tested this term.
Hugely impressive throughout last season, Anthony Honeyball’s mare has become something of a fan-favourite with consistently exciting performances. She followed up a string of three wins, including one at Newbury, with battling displays in high-class races at Ascot and Cheltenham. The seven-year-old closed off her campaign finishing ahead of Elegant Escape, but behind winner Terrefort in the Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase. If all goes to plan at Newbury, a shot at the top prizes could be on the cards this time.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Best price 66/1
Worst price 50/1
Grand National
Best price 40/1
Worst price 25/1
If you are backing a runner in the Ladbrokes Trophy or fancy a punt on the other ante-post markets, make sure you bet at the best prices through Oddschecker.
