Donn McClean

IT is going to be difficult to get used to this Ladbrokes Trophy thing. We have had a lifetime of Hennessy, in the same way as we had a lifetime of Whitbread, up to a point, and that one is still difficult.

The key for the new sponsor – as it is for any new sponsor – is consistency and longevity. If you have those two harmonious bedfellows, then you have a chance of having your name engrained into the event, as it is engraved into the trophy. The Ladbrokes Trophy. It’s when you start to change sponsors that you get the quotes: he’ll go for the Hennessy, or whatever they call it these days. A five-year deal is a good start.

There is no doubt that the most fascinating contender is Total Recall, who will, helpfully, have Paul Townend clad in the red and white colours of the sponsors. And the Slaneyville Syndicate, of course.

Total Recall was brilliant in the Munster National, he travelled well through his race for Ruby Walsh, he danced around the mid-race carnage that surrounded him, and he came clear of Alpha Des Obeaux, who in turn came clear of the rest of the field.

That was his first run for Willie Mullins, and you winced as you thought of what the handicapper would do to him. An 18lb hike to a mark of 147 was significant, but you didn’t think at the time that it was overly severe. When you are going into hikes of that magnitude, one man’s (educated) guess is as good as the next man’s. And the handicapper was vindicated when Alpha Des Obeaux went out last time and won the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase, with A Toi Phil and Balko Des Flos, both rated 158, filling the minor places.

PROGRESSIVE

A Genie In Abottle also has a big chance. Noel Meade’s horse was a progressive staying novice chaser last season, and the form of his Galway win in October – when he beat Mala Beach by two and a half lengths, the pair of them nicely clear – received a good boost in the Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday. He races off a mark of 152 today, just 2lb higher than his Irish mark, and that gives him a chance in a race that should suit his racing style.

That said, Whisper may be a better betting proposition at just a slightly shorter price. Nicky Henderson’s horse was a classy hurdler and he was a top class novice chaser last season.

He got to within a short head of Might Bite in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March, when he was aided by the winner’s wayward tendencies on the run-in, but he got close to him too in the Grade 1 Mildmay Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April.

He warmed up for today with a good win from Clan Des Obeaux in a two-horse race at Kempton two and a half weeks ago, when his stamina eventually kicked in over that intermediate trip. It is a pity that he has to carry a 4lb penalty for that victory today, but at least Clan Des Obeaux added ballast to the form when he ran out an impressive winner of a graduation chase at Haydock last Saturday.

That leaves Whisper on a handicap rating of 161 today, which is high enough and which is 2lb higher than his official mark. That is not ideal, but he is a classy staying chaser who continues to progress and who has Davy Russell for company again today in a big staying handicap chase. He has raced just six times over fences and there could be even more to come from him.

BABY’S TURN

Baby King could be the answer to a tricky looking two-mile handicap chase that concludes proceedings at Newbury today.

Tom George’s horse was a good hurdler, but already he is shaping as if he will be a much better chaser, and Adrian Heskin conjured a stunning finish from him on his seasonal return at Aintree last month to get him up to beat Ut Majeur Aulmes.

The handicapper raised him just 3lb for that to a mark of 135, which is more than acceptable. That was just his third chase, he has won on the two occasions on which he has completed and he has the potential to progress significantly now.

He should be better suited by the stiffer test that Newbury and softer ground and a slightly longer distance will present, and he could go close.

Recommended

WHISPER 1 point each-way, 8/1 (generally)

BABY KING 1 point win, 9/2 (generally)