Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase Tips: Lowry's Sets A High Bar

A packed Kempton card on ITV concludes with the big betting race of the day at the track, the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase. The odds compilers are struggling to nail a favourite but Billy Grimshaw is very sweet on his fancy at the head of the market...

Not to be disparaging about the rest of the graded action at Kempton on Saturday, which is of higher quality than this race, but this is the race of the day for those who love a punt as well as enjoying watching these majestic animals strut their stuff.  A convincing case can be made for at least half a dozen in this race - I should know, it's my job to do just that! - and it is great to see a handicap chase with such good prize money being so well populated.

At the time of writing it is Nicky Henderson's Hyland that is the clear market leader at around the 3/1 mark, and while he is one of the more likely winners I am not sure he deserves to be half the price of his closest rival in the market. The case for him is painstakingly obvious, with his second here back around Christmas in a Grade 1 potentially far and away the best piece of form behind The Jukebox Man. Cruelly for Ben Pauling and connections of the horse who bested him when last seen, we won't get to see just how good that run is this campaign with the winner now ruled out for the season.

Looking at his win before that, the form has been knocked somewhat with Resplendent Grey only a half length off him at the line but well beaten on his next couple of runs. Nevertheless, Hyland is probably a graded level handicap chaser and as such even with a big weight to carry in here it would not be a shock to see him in the mix come the finish. At the prices though, he is an easy one to swerve as I think the second favourite could emerge as the better horse in time and take his chance in Grade Ones in the future.

That second favourite is LOWRY'S BAR, a horse this time last week I was making the case for in the Reynoldstown. He of course did not take his chance there in a potential rematch with Jingko Blue and with the odds-on favourite falling early, I bet connections of Lowry's Bar were cursing the fact their horse picked up a small knock on the morning of the race. He is clearly fine given he is set to run here and with many fancying him for the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, on face value this looked a puzzling entry. However, I am taking it as a sign the team think he may be up to bigger and better tests than handicaps, so if he wins here and wins well expect to see him in the Brown Advisory come Cheltenham.

Jingko Blue, his conqueror when last seen in fortuitous circumstances (Lowry's Bar made a crucial mistake late on and was battling back), is still well fancied for that race and given I fancied this lad to reverse form last weekend in a graded race with that rival, I have to keep faith in him here despite the burden of top weight against a field of good but inferior rivals. His jumping bar that aforementioned blunder has been a real asset and I think he'll relish the big field here, particularly if allowed to race prominently by Michael Nolan. He won't get an easy lead with plenty of pace on but his jumping could get plenty in trouble and with assured stamina and bigger and better things on his horizon, I am hoping for a bold show. He rates a pretty safe EW play in my book and is certainly a better proposition than backing the fav.

The dangers are everywhere in here, with 2023 winner Our Power a horse one suspects Sam Thomas has targeted at this race for some time. He has been steadily backed all week in the antepost lists and he'd be another I'd be fairly confident in hitting the frame. Heltenham has not quite been the same horse this season as he was last year but for the 'Saturday Skeltons' he's another that obviously has his chance off this mark if bouncing back to form.