TOTAL Recall, raised 18lbs for his Munster National win last month, is one of five Willie Mullins-trained entries for the rebranded Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on December 2nd. Formerly known as the Hennessy, the £250,000 handicap chase has attracted 60 entries and Total Recall is the 8/1 joint-favourite along with Harry Fry’s American.

Mullins inherited Total Recall upon the retirement from training of Sandra Hughes. Stable companion Acapella Bourgeois was another to join Mullins from that source and this Grade 2 winner also has a Newbury entry, along with Childrens List, Pleasant Company and Polidam.

“There is good prize money on offer and we hope to be in the running for some of it,” Mullins said this week. Gordon Elliott also has five entries, while Noel Meade has three possible runners.

Harry Fry, trainer of American, reported: “We have been very happy with American and the Ladbrokes Trophy is very much his target. He looks to have the right sort of profile for the race.

“Second-season chasers have a good record and he was a very good novice who did nothing wrong last season. The left-handed, galloping track at Newbury should suit him well and hopefully he gets the soft ground that he enjoys.

“He will have to graft to be ready first time out for a race like this, so he will be going away for a racecourse gallop in the build-up. As things stand, American is right on target.”

Major hopes for the home team include Mark Bradstock’s 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree and the Alan King-trained Smad Place, who won the race two years ago and proved he is no back number when making a successful reappearance in last Sunday’s Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

Weights for the Ladbrokes Trophy will be released next Tuesday.