Ladbrokes Trophy Odds

What is the Ladbrokes Trophy?

The Ladbrokes Trophy is a Grade Three handicap chase run over a trip of three miles and two furlongs at Newbury Races in late November or early December.

Formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, the Ladbrokes Chase is one of the most important prestigious races in the sport and behind the Grand National, the pre-eminent handicap contest on the calendar. There are twenty-one fences to be jumped in the race and with the ground often soft, it is a test of both a  horses stamina and jumping which makes it one of the most exciting days of racing of the year.

A purse of £250,000 is also a welcome attraction for the race with second season chasers often targeted at Newbury with trainers hoping their future stars are one step ahead of the handicapper at this stage of the winter.

What happened in the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy?

Jonjo O'Neill's Cloth Cap produced a fine front-running performance to win the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy in sensational style, as he produced a scintillating round of jumping to win the Newbury showpiece. Running off bottom weight, the Jackdaws Castle inmate was piling it on out front, and as others faltered he maintained the gallop in fine style and pulled ten lengths clear of Aye Right, who finished best of the rest in second. David Bridgwater's The Conditional ran a mighty race to finish third, while outsider The Hollow Ginge completed the placings with a fine fourth-placed finish.

The history of the Ladbrokes Trophy

Few races can match the Ladbrokes Trophy for history with the some of the greatest horses of all time winning the famous contest.

First run in 1957, the contest will forever be known as the Hennessy gold Cup which was the name of the race up until recently when it has gone under the sponsorship of a bookmaker. The contest was initially staged at Cheltenham before being moved to Newbury in 1960 where it has become a staple of the season and remains a highly sought after race to win.

Traditionally it has been seen as a trial race for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with nine horses winning both in the same season with Native River the last to do so in 2018. It is fair to say that the race has lost some of its lustre over the past decade but the quality of the roll of honour remains very high and we can look forward to another excellent spectacle this season.

Who is the most iconic winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy?

The Ladbrokes Trophy is synonymous with legendary weight carrying performances with a number of horses in particular producing performances in the race that will go down in history. Mill House and Burrough Hill Lad both lumped 12st to glory at Newbury while more recently it was Denman who win the race twice off top weight, with his second win in 2009 a performance for the ages from a horse who had suffered heart problems.

Top of the tree though has to be Arkle who is widely considered to be the greatest national hunt horse of all time and that is largely down to his performances in the Hennessy Gold Cup, as it was known. "Himself" came over from Ireland in 1964 and 1965 to carry 12st8lbs to glory in two performances that are scarcely believable, especially when you look at the quality of his opposition in those races.

Are there any trials for the Ladbrokes Trophy?

The Ladbrokes Trophy will often be the early season target for a number of second season chasers which means the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival has tended to produce a number of runner at Newbury the following November or December. We could also see animals from the novices handicap chase at Prestbury Park improve towards a tilt at the Labdrokes Trophy, while the staying handicap chase races at the October Cheltenham meeting are worth keeping an eye on as trainers look to to get their contenders spot on for the big assignment at Newbury.

Who is the most successful jockey in the Ladbrokes Trophy?

Willie Robinson might not be a rider known to many younger readers but the jockey tasted plenty of success during his career and sits top of the charts when it comes to the Ladbrokes Trophy. Robinson won the race on Mandarin (1961), Mill House (1963) and Man of the West (1968) during his career.

Who is the most successful trainer in the Ladbrokes Trophy?

The Ladbrokes Trophy roll of honour has been a stellar one with the best trainers in the sport targeting the race to add to their CV's. The great Fulke Walwyn won the race a record seven times with Mandarin (1957 + 1961), Taxidermist (1958), Mill House (1963), Man Of The West (1968), Charlie Potheen (1972) and Diamond Edge (1981) all scoring.