CABARET QUEEN can reign supreme in the Ladbrokes Trophy.
Willie Mullins won this two years ago with Total Recall and this seven-year-old has a similar profile.
She moved across the Irish Sea from Dan Skelton’s yard and hammered her rivals in the Munster National at Limerick last time — just like Total Recall did. There were no signs of any jumping problems there and she has a lot more to offer.
ELEGANT ESCAPE 3/5
ESCAPE party. Second in this last year in the mud and needs plenty of cut again, which he should get. Good comeback second in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby but has a lot of weight to cart so place probably his best hope.
BEWARE THE BEAR 2/5
BEAR lacks claws. Distant fourth in this last year before two good Cheltenham wins, including the Ultima at the Festival. Will have no issues getting home but has plenty of weight and winning looks a tall order.
BRAVE EAGLE 3/5
EAGLE could land. Was last seen winning a Listed chase at Uttoxeter in June over this trip, which suits well. Has gone up the weights for that so needs to improve but it’s early days and he could find more. One of the better outsiders
YALA ENKI 3/5
YALA gala. Mudlark who chased home Elegant Escape in last year’s Welsh National and is best after a break. Stays well and making debut for Paul Nicholls. The champ could conjure up some improvement.
YORKHILL 2/5
HILL to climb. Comes from Team Mullins but has lost his way in recent times with his high point when winning the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2017. Did score at Galway in August but has been poor twice since and needs big bounce back.
ROBINSFIRTH 3/5
ROBIN could fly. Has been hard to get on the track but does well when he makes it including when winning the Haydock Grand National Trial last time out. That was in February but he goes well fresh and looks on a fair weight. Yard going well so can’t be ruled out.
OK CORRAL 3/5
OK for a place. Lightly-raced for his age and won his first two starts over fences well before being hampered and pulled up in the NH Chase at Cheltenham. Stays well and goes in any ground but can make jumping errors. Has scope to improve but may want further.
MISTER MALARKEY 4/5
YES Mister. Still only six and did well last season with big wins here and at Ascot before finishing fourth in the RSA at the Festival. Finished with good second at Aintree and looked rusty on comeback earlier this month. Will be fit and ready today so very much on shortlist.
ON THE BLIND SIDE 3/5
BLIND faith. Promising first season over fences last term and good fourth behind Vinndication on Ascot comeback. Shapes as though this trip will suit and fit from that return. One to consider.
DE RASHER COUNTER 3/5
RASHER sizzling. Improved towards end of last season and finished by winning slog through mud at Uttoxeter. Stays well and fit from comeback spin over hurdles. Climbing weights but has excellent conditional on board taking off 5lb.
Top Pinstickers' tip for the Ladbrokes Trophy
CABARET QUEEN (Bet now)
LE MUSEE 1/5
DON’T say Musee. Won a minor race at Perth in September before a poor effort there upped to 3m. Best has come in soft ground but doesn’t look up to this level.
DAKLONDIKE 2/5
STUCK in the Dike. Failed to complete three of four chases last season but won the other one nicely in the mud at Haydock. Stays well but looks short of this class and clearly has quirks.
BORICE 4/5
BOR could score. Won the Galway Plate last time out in July so won’t mind this big field and an 11lb rise for that isn’t crazy. Should enjoy this longer trip and respected coming from Gordon Elliott.
CABARET QUEEN 5/5
CABARET star. Has similar profile to Willie Mullins’ 2017 winner Total Recall who also won the Munster National before heading here. Has improved her jumping since moving yards and has plenty of staying power. Looks hard to beat.
TWO TAFFS 2/5
TAFFS not naff. Was useful chaser before two-year break and needed the outing over hurdles at Wetherby on comeback. Not certain to stay back in high-class chase so has a little to prove.
DINGO DOLLAR 4/5
DOLLAR fits bill. Third in this last year and back from 2lb lower mark. Solid comeback over hurdles and has clearly been aimed at this. Goes on any ground and should make a bold bid.
WEST APPROACH 3/5
APPROACH with care. Distant fifth in this last year and has gone well at Cheltenham twice this season, especially when winning Grade 3 chase last time. Stays all day but has penalty for that success which may make the difference.
SOME CHAOS 2/5
CHAOS won’t reign. Climbing the weights after landing four lesser handicaps last season, including over this trip. Fit from comeback over hurdles and deserves this hike in class but needs to find more.
JOE FARRELL 2/5
IT ain’t so Joe. Scottish National winner in 2018 and best run since came when second here in March. Solid comeback third at Chepstow last month but this is a much taller order.
REGAL ENCORE 2/5
ENCORE needs a repeat. Best run for long time when second at Ascot this month and was third in this from
7lb higher two years ago. Big price if repeating that effort but that is a huge ‘if’ these days.
SHANTOU VILLAGE 1/5
SHUN Shan. Struggling to finish a race at the moment and unseated when going well at Listowel last time in September. Poor run in the Ultima at Cheltenham before that so needs to bounce back.
WALT 2/5
WALT disnae excite. Game win at Taunton 16 days ago but in much easier company. Has a penalty for that and should stay but needs to improve again.
THE CONDITIONAL 2/5
CON isn’t on. Game win in the mud at Cheltenham last time when shaping as though this trip and further would be ideal. Up a fair 6lb for that and looks capable of better at this relatively early stage of his career. More on his plate today but should run well.
COMMODORE 3/5
DORE may draw. Won his first two chase starts well and needed the run when fifth on comeback at Bangor earlier this month. Has no issues staying and goes on any ground. Can improve and has each-way squeak at long odds.
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