Steve Ryder previews this weekend's Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton Park and picks his winner for the race.
Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase
The Ladbrokes Trophy is a Premier Handicap Chase run over 3 miles at Kempton. This year the race will be run on Saturday 21st February at 3:35.
Ladbrokes Trophy Winners, Trends & Stats
This race has produced two Grand National winners in the past with both Rhyme ‘n’ Reason and Rough Quest winning the Aintree showpiece.
• 12 of the previous 12 winners were aged between 7 and 9
• 11 of the previous 12 winners had at least 2 runs that season
• 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 7 previous chase starts
• 9 of the previous 12 winners carried 11st or less
• 8 of the previous 12 winners were rated 134 or higher
• 8 of the previous 12 winners had previously run at Kempton
Ladbrokes Trophy Runners Guide
KATATE D’ORI
Last year’s winner who was raised 12lbs for a 15-length success as a result. He is yet to win again since but finished a close 2nd at Cheltenham last time when only beaten ½ length off a mark of 135. He has been raised 1lb up to a mark of 136 which is 11lbs higher than last year but the return to Kempton should suit.
HOE JOLY SMOKE
Has caught the eye on all three of his runs this season in competitive Cheltenham handicaps. He now steps back up in trip to 3 miles and that should suit as well as a return to a flat track. He appears to be still well handicapped off a mark of 131.
BLUEKING D’OROUX
Paul Nicholls trained seven-year-old who makes his handicap debut over fences having finished down the field in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Christmas. He justified odds of evens to win the Grade 2 Rising Star Novices’ Chase at Wincanton in November and is rated 10lbs lower over fences than his hurdles rating of 151 currently.
BOOMBAWN
Nine-year-old who finished 2nd behind Rubaud in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase at this meeting last season. He has form figures of 1123 at Kempton in his career but needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at Cheltenham last time.
DEEP CAVE
Won his first two starts this season at Bangor and Ascot before finishing 5th in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster last time. His victory in the Silver Cup at Ascot on his penultimate start off a makr of 139 gives the impression that he remains well handicapped off a mark of 141.
KDEUX SAINT FRAY
A beaten favourite behind stablemate Jordans Cross in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last time, he shapes like this step up in trip to 3 miles at Kempton would suit. He has to defy a few trends highlighted above but would likely need to win this in order to get into Cheltenham festival handicaps.
Who is the favourite to win the Ladbrokes Trophy?
At the time of writing, Katate d'Ori is the 5/1 favourite for the Ladbrokes Trophy. He is followed at the top of the market by Hoe Joly Smoke, Kdeux Saint Fray, and The Doyen Chief.
| Ladbrokes Trophy Winner | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Katate d'Ori | 5/1 | bet365 |
| Hoe Joly Smoke | 7/1 | William Hill |
| Kdeux Saint Fray | 9/1 | bet365 |
| The Doyen Chief | 9/1 | bet365 |
| Deep Cave | 10/1 | William Hill |
BresBet
Ladbrokes Trophy Trainer & Jockeys To Watch
Of the trainers with intended runners in the race, Paul Nicholls (Gungadu in 2008 & Rocky Creek in 2015) and Sam Thomas (Our Power in 2023 & Katate Dori in 2025) have the best recent record. Both Nicky Henderson (0-16) and Alan King (0-13) have both struggled to win this race in the past 20 renewals.
The leading jockey recently is Sam Twiston-Davies who has won the race three times on Rocky Creek (2015), Walt (2019) and Our Power (2023). Harry Skelton has ridden 11 runners in the race without recording any wins.
Ladbrokes Trophy Betting Insights
The only horse to tick all of the trends highlighted above is last year’s winner KATATE D’ORI (best priced at 5/1) and he looks to hold strong claims with the likes of Iroko and Hyland not confirmed for the race this morning.
Trainer Sam Thomas has won this race twice in the past three seasons and this will have no doubt been a target for the eight-year-old. He is rated 11lbs higher than his success in 2025 but was only beaten ½ length off a 1lb lower mark in a Cheltenham handicap on New Year’s Day and a repeat of that effort would see him go close.
Hoe Joly Smoke has proved the most popular bet with Oddschecker punters on Monday, picking up 29% of all bets placed.
Betting Tip: Katate D’Ori 5/1 (0.5pt ew)
