Longshot Ted: Pauling has a leading Ladbrokes Trophy hope

In this week's column, Ed Quigley picks out his best bet for Saturday's Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury, before taking a long range look at next year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle...

Newbury plays host to the Ladbrokes winter carnival this Friday and Saturday in what promises to be two days of cracking action. The Ladbrokes Trophy will take centre stage Saturday afternoon, and there look to be plenty of horses in there with strong claims. Copperhead has been my long term fancy for this, but was worrying flat in his prep run over hurdles at Wetherby when pulled-up, so my enthusiasm is tempered somewhat. In the same race, KILDISART finished third, a run full of encouragement, that should have him absolutely spot on for this.

The Ben Pauling-trained individual ran a stormer on very testing ground when just touched off in this year's Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, and despite not holding any obvious advantages over the handicapper, this extra distance should bring about more improvement from him, and I expect him to go close. The prospect of ground at Newbury with the word 'good' in the description should be no issue. At much bigger prices, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Danny Whizzbang out ran his odds. He bled at Wincanton last time out, but that track would have been all wrong for him, and he returns to the scene of his only chase victory which is obviously a big fillip. 

Elsewhere on the card, I think Marie's Rock should prove a lot better than 141 in the Gerry Fielden, and if Highest Sun takes his chance in the 13.15, he should show a much improved display after running below-par at Hereford last time out. He should strip a lot fitter for that run, and he ran well at Newbury last year when beaten 4 lengths by Champ.

Turning attention to Friday's card, and all eyes will be on the Long Distance Hurdle, which looks on paper an early contender for race of the season. Paisley Park, Lisnagar Oscar, McFabulous, Thyme Hill and Summerville Boy are all set to clash in an absolute corker. It will be a watching brief from myself, but this should help start to sort out the pecking order as far as the candidates for the Stayers' Hurdle go.

Fiddlerontheroof is my early fancy for the Marsh Chase, and I expect his odds of 33/1 to tumble with an impressive performance in the Berkshire Novices' Chase at 13.50. He has looked a natural over fences so far and should have more to offer. 

FLINTEUR SACRE makes his long awaited hurdling debut in the opener on Friday. A full brother to racing legend Sprinter Sacre, he oozed class when winning a Kempton bumper back in February, in what Barry Geraghty described as 'the easiest bumper winner he had ridden'. He looks a top prospect and can take tall order in the hurdling ranks. Currently 16/1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, those odds will soon disappear with a winning performance here, and he has gone into the portfolio for Prestbury Park in March.

Selections

Ladbrokes Trophy, Newbury, Saturday 28th November - Kildisart, 1pt win at 9/1 (Hills and Betfred)

Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival, Tuesday 16th March 2021 - Flinteur Sacre, 1pt win at 16/1 (generally)