Nov 2020
Weights to rise 3lb as 28 hold their ground for 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy
Oli Bell is hoping for another dream day presenting for ITV Racing if Two For Gold (10st 12lbs) were to line up in the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy. Having become famed for his exuberant celebrations following Big Orange’s Royal Ascot win for his uncle Michael Bell, the ITV presenter, who is involved in the ‘May We Never Be Found Out Partnership’ that owns the Kim Bailey-trained seven-year-old, has promised to be a little more controlled if Two For Gold were to come home in front.
“He’s got a few options, with nothing confirmed yet,” said Bell, “It’s a decision we’ll leave to Kim, whose yard is in fantastic form, to make nearer the time, but it would definitely be exciting to run in the Ladbrokes Trophy. I got involved with the syndicate through some good friends, the Clancy family. After one too many in a box at Royal Ascot with Kim Bailey, we woke up with hangovers…and a horse! That horse was The Rainbow Hunter who went on to run in three Grand Nationals for us, a fantastic experience.
“Sadly Dermot Clancy, one of the founders of the syndicate, passed away about a year ago, so every time Two For Gold runs we raise a glass to Dermot, and it would be great to be raising one to him after the Ladbrokes Trophy.”
Following the scratching of Topofthegame following an injury, the weights will rise three pounds, with new top weight Ballyoptic (11st 12lbs), closely followed by Vinndication (11st 11lbs), another possible runner for Kim Bailey, who was second at Weatherby in the Charlie Hall Chase behind Cyrname.
Another trainer in fantastic form this season is Anthony Honeyball, who has two horses in the Ladbrokes Trophy following the scratchings stage including, Regal Encore (11st 1lb) and the exciting Sam Brown (11st 2lbs), a lightly raced horse who has won five of his eight starts and was most recently third in a Listed race at Carlisle. Honeyball said: “Both horses have come out of their recent runs well and we will look to run them in the Ladbrokes Trophy. Regal Encore ran a fantastic race at Ascot, which was his early season target, and we would love to have another crack at the Grand National, he was eighth in 2017 and then seventh last year.
“I think the Ladbrokes Trophy will suit him as he likes an end to end gallop, plus he has course form from the 2017 race, which he was third in. Regal has been the most fantastic horse for the yard, and my wife Rachael does all the work with him – he gets more attention than me!
“We are hoping for a little more rain for Sam Brown, but he is on a nice mark and we think the course will suit him. He got a bit tapped for speed in the closing stages of the race at Carlisle, so the extra half a mile in the Ladbrokes Trophy should be ideal for him.”
Ladbrokes spokesman Jon Lees said: “With Topofthegame unfortunately ruled out we now have three co-favourites, Copperhead, The Conditional and Vinndication, on 8/1 at the top of the wide-open betting market. Oli Bell’s horse Two For Gold is as short as 10/1, and with 28 horses still standing, this year’s Ladbrokes Trophy is shaping up to be a highly competitive renewal.”
Ladbrokes betting: 8/1 Copperhead, The Conditional, Vinndication, 9/1 Aye Right, 10/1 Two For Gold, 12/1 De Rasher Counter, 14/1 Black Op, Kildisart, Sam Brown, 16/1 Cloth Cap, Slate House, 20/1 Bar
Full List of Acceptors
Horse | Weight | Trainer | Owner |
Ballyoptic | 11-12 | Nigel Twiston-Davies | Mills & Mason Partnership |
Vinndication | 11-11 | Kim Bailey | Moremoneythan |
Secret Investor | 11-9 | Paul Nicholls | Hills of Ledbury Ltd |
Beware The Bear | 11-8 | Nicky Henderson | Mr G.B. Barlow |
Yala Enki | 11-6 | Paul Nicholls | Hills of Ledbury Ltd |
Truckers Lodge | 11-5 | Paul Nicholls | Gordon & Su Hall |
De Rasher Counter | 11-5 | Emma Lavelle | Makin’ Bacon Partnership |
Kildisart | 11-5 | Ben Pauling | Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede |
Sam Brown | 11-2 | Anthony Honeyball | Mr T.C. Frost |
Slate House | 11-2 | Colin Tizzard | Eric Jones, Geoff Nichols, John Romans |
Copperhead | 11-2 | Colin Tizzard | Mrs G.C. Prichard |
Regal Encore | 11-1 | Anthony Honeyball | Mr John P. McManus |
Aye Right | 11-0 | Harriet Graham | Geoff and Elspeth Adam |
Mister Malarky | 11-0 | Colin Tizzard | Wendy & Malcolm Hezel |
Black Op | 11-0 | Tom George | Mr R.S. Brookhouse |
Siruh du Lac | 11-0 | David Pipe | John White & Anne Underhill |
Two For Gold | 10-12 | Kim Bailey | May We Never Be Found Out Partnership 2 |
Spiritofthegames | 10-12 | Dan Skelton | Mr N.W. Lake |
The Conditional | 10-11 | David Bridgwater | Mr P.J. Cave |
La Bague Au Roi | 10-9 | Warren Greatrex | Mrs Julien Tuner & Mr Andrew Merriam |
Danny Whizzbang | 10-9 | Paul Nicholls | Mrs Angela Tincknell |
The Hollow Ginge | 10-8 | Nigel Twiston-Davies | The Ginge Army |
Potterman | 10-6 | Alan King | James & Jean Potter Ltd |
Benatar | 10-6 | Gary Moore | Mr Ashley Head |
Coo Star Sivola | 10-3 | Nick Williams | Babbit Racing |
Ardlethen | 10-2 | Dan Skelton | Mike and Eileen Newbould |
Cloth Cap | 10-0 | Jonjo O’Neill | Mr Trevor Hemmings |
Lamanver Pippin | 9-10 | Colin Tizzard | Dr Donna Christensen |