Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Betting Tips, Winners & History

Next Race: TBD

The next renewal of this race has not been scheduled yet. We will update this once the schedule has been released for next season. The race info, trends and tips shown below will be updated for the next renewal once the final declarations have been made.

Ladbrokes Trophy Chase Betting Tips

Note: The following tips are from 2020. Tips for the next renewal will be added once the final declarations have been made.

Of the trainers represented in this year’s line-up, it is perennial rivals Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson who lead the way with three wins apiece. Nicholls sends Danny Whizzbang and Secret Investor into battle this time around, whilst Henderson relies on last season’s fourth-placed finisher, Beware The Bear.

This contest has definitely favoured those towards the younger end of the age spectrum of late, with nine of the past 10 winners having been aged between six and eight years old – a stat which speaks against the five runners aged nine and older in this year’s field.

Considering just how competitive this event is, the favourites actually boast an excellent recent record. Over the past 10 years, supporters of the market leader would have been rewarded with three winners and a £1 level stakes profit of £5.00.

Vinndication – 5/1

Heading the betting this year is the Kim Bailey-trained runner, Vinndication. This seven year old by Vinnie Roe has long been the apple of his trainer’s eye, and boasted excellent form in his hurdling days, with the highlight of his three runs over the smaller obstacles coming when giving six pounds and a beating to last season’s RSA Chase winner, Champ.

Given that hurdles form, hopes were high headed into his debut chase campaign in 2018-19. Winning his first two starts with the minimum of fuss, he then proved not quite up to it when beaten twice in Grade 1 company, although to finish fifth in the JLT Novices’ Chase was by no means a bad effort.

Given wind surgery and a 233 day break on the back of that Cheltenham effort, he has since put in three cracking efforts: winning an Ascot handicap by five lengths off a mark of 151, finishing a close up fourth in the Ultima off 159 and finding only the mighty Cyrname too good on his seasonal return in the Charlie Hall Chase last time out. Cyrname didn’t appear to be anything like fully extended that day, but it was still a fine run to finish only two lengths adrift of the highest rated chaser in training. Already touted as a potential Gold Cup horse by his trainer, if he is to go close to fulfilling that ambition, then he shouldn’t be far away running off 161 here.

Kildisart – 7/1

Another must for the shortlist is the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Kildisart who goes for trainer Ben Pauling. A classy performer over the smaller obstacles - rising to the same hurdles mark of 149 as Vinndication - much like Vinndication he has also had little trouble translating that ability to fences.

A winner of three of his 10 chase starts to date, the Dubai Destination colt finished one place ahead of Vinndication in the 2019 JLT Novices’ Chase when looking very much in need of a step up in trip. Failing to handle heavy ground on his two subsequent starts, he then really caught the eye when a staying on fifth off a mark of 151 in a Grade 3 at Kempton in February. That effort suggested a big run may be in the offing ahead of the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and the gelding duly delivered a mighty performance in failing by only a neck to concede 11 pounds to The Conditional.

The bare reading of that form gives Kildisart every chance here, as does his earlier effort when trouncing the field by five lengths in a similar Grade 3 event at Aintree in 2019. Only seven pounds higher than that Aintree effort, still only eight years old, and fit and well following a recent spin over hurdles, he is fancied to go close. The form of Ben Pauling had been a slight concern, but with the trainer’s past two runners winning at the time of writing, he may have his string coming to the boil nicely just in time for this.

Copperhead – 9/1

Colin Tizzard sent out future Gold Cup champ Native River to win this in 2016 and bagged the prize for a second time with Sizing Tennessee in 2018. Keeping his good run in the race going with the gallant third placed finish of Elegant Escape twelve months ago, Tizzard has become a man to be feared in this in recent times. This year the Dorset handler sends a two-pronged attack to post in the shape of Mister Malarky and Copperhead.

Going in the first time blinkers and only three pounds higher than his last winning mark, Mister Malarky can’t be dismissed, but we just prefer the claims of the less exposed Copperhead. No great shakes over hurdles, this one has taken a huge leap forward in winning three of his five chase starts to date. Significantly the second of those wins came over this very course and distance, when looking miles clear of a mark of 134 in the Mandarin Handicap Chase last December. Backing that up with a 17-length rout in a Grade 2 at Ascot, he looked a horse destined for the top table.

He did disappoint when putting in a tired fall in the RSA Chase on his final start of the campaign, but we are happy to forgive that effort considering the Tizzard yard was under something of a cloud at the time. A pulled up effort on his seasonal return at Wetherby would be of more concern, but then he had been beaten a distance on his comeback last term before embarking on that winning spree. Talented and with the best likely still to come he looks a threat to all under Robbie Power.