🏇 Ladbrokes Trophy Day: The Full Report

Our aim this weekend - as always - is to keep racing simple.

It’s how we like it.

So, what’s happening?

Kempton Park and Newcastle are the headline acts.

The main race is the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase, at Kempton (3.35).

Newcastle have their marathon Eider Chase (2.43), a handy Grand National pointer.

There are a total of 9 races across 4 tracks on ITV4 this Saturday, so let’s get cracking…

Our PR Team has sorted through this week’s key quotes so you don’t have to...

Livin On Luco goes beyond four miles at Newcastle (2.43), but connections remain confident the distance “won’t be a problem.” (Sporting Life, Friday, 20 February 2026).

Fasal (1.10) will want the rain to stay away. His trainer likes his chance on Saturday, adding that “the more it dries up the better.” (Betfair, Friday, 20 February 2026)

The Doyen Chief (3.35) is reportedly “in good order” and a “slightly better horse going right-handed” (Sporting Life, Friday, 20 February 2026).

My Immortal won last weekend’s Grand National Trial in Ireland and could go for the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (14 March). His yard thinks “he’d probably get in off bottom weight.” (Racing UK, Sunday, 15 February 2026).

On the all-weather, Aisling Oscar narrowly missed out on a ninth straight win last Friday, but his trainer thought “everything went against him” on ground slower than normal (At The Races, Wednesday 18 February 2026).

There are 17 days until Cheltenham Eve 🤤 and plenty to chat about…

El Cairos remains a solid 6-1 shot for the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle. Jockey, Jack Kennedy said the horse “gives you a very good feel” and is “the fastest I’ve ridden.” (Racing UK, Monday, 16 February 2026).

No Drama This End (4-1 for the Turner Novices' Hurdle) worked well on the gallops, with his owner stating he’s “in a different league," while adding that Harry Cobden (who rode him) “had a big smile on his face.” (Sporting Life, Tuesday, 17 February 2026).

Myretown failed to get home in last weekend’s gruelling Grand National Trial when pulled up. He now swerves April’s National and is 10/1 to make it back-to-back wins in Cheltenham’s Ultima Handicap Chase.

Wilde’s Legacy goes for the Champion Bumper after impressing in the mud at Huntingdon. A drier surface may also help, as his trainer doesn’t think “he wants deep ground.” (Racing UK, Wednesday 18 February 2026).

Stumptown is 11/4 for the Cross Country Chase, and his yard stated “all has gone smooth”. They’d also be “welcoming rain for him as he handles soft ground.” (At The Races, Friday 20 February 2026).

After flopping in the Irish Gold Cup, Affordale Fury is 40/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. His trainer, however, discovered “he pulled a little muscle on the inside of his hind-leg.” (Irish Racing, Thursday 19 February 2026).

Newbury winner, Tutti Quanti, may yet still appear at Cheltenham. Connections said they might “consider the Champion Hurdle if it keeps on raining.” (Betfair, Friday 13 February 2026).

Kempton Notes:

► 1:15 Six-year-old runners at 11/1 or shorter won 4 of the last 5 renewals - Hold The Serve & Grenadier Jed match the profile.

► 1:45 The last 6 winners triumphed by a winning distance of under 4 lengths - a ‘length’ is simply a standard measurement of a horse from nose to tail.

2025 - 1 length
2024 - ¾ lengths
2023 - 2 lengths
2022 - 1 length
2021 - 3¾ lengths
2020 - ¾ length

► 2:25 Paul Nicholls trained 14 winners in 20 years, and runs Go West.

► 3:00 Second favourites won 7 of the last 9 renewals, from 5/2 to 6/1.

► 3:35 Favourites failed to win in 10 years - 8 winners were 11/2 to 9/1.

Newcastle Notes:

► Respect favourites.

► 8 of the last 10 winning distances in the Eider Chase (2.43) were four lengths or under.

► Nicky Richards trained 4 winners and 4 placed (from 16) here in the last year.

His Saturday runners are:

1.35 Wainwright
2.43 Anglers Crag
3.20 Baratablet & Saracen Beau
3.58 Sunnyvilla

Chepstow Notes:

► Jeremy Scott trained 4 winners and 3 placed here in the last year (from 17).

His Saturday runners are:

2.17 Another Fine Mess
2.55 King Of The Lake
4.48 Don’t Tell Rosie
5.18 All About Trev

► Only one of the last 31 female runners at this specific meeting won. In the 4.48, Thorgath is the only male runner amongst his market rivals. He also ran a career best second last time out behind Eton Mess, a winner next time.

Fairyhouse Notes:

There is an inspection at 8am on Saturday morning as the ground remains heavy.

A strong Grand National clue could come via the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse (Bobbyjo won the National in 1999).

The last two winners of the Grand National, Nick Rockett (2025) and I Am Maximus (2024), both won the Bobbyjo Chase beforehand. 

Expect ripples in the Grand National market following Saturday’s renewal at 3:15.

Fontwell Notes:

Chris Gordon trained 10 winners here in the last year.

His Sunday runners are:

2:20 Lifetime In Milan
3:50 Betgoodwin & Local Derby
4:50 Cheap Sandwiches

Hereford Notes:

► Respect favourites.

► Ten-year-old runners did well in the 3.10, several were favourites - Immortal Flame has the right profile.

Naas Notes:

► Kish Bank (5.00) won both of his races going left-handed.

Buoyed by a stack of midweek pancakes, The Purist chose to ignore recent hype about Constitution Hill and Cheltenham, instead focusing purely on Saturday's action...

THE SHORTEST PRICE - SOPELANA (1.30 Fairyhouse)

Dropped back to her favoured trip and loves going right-handed in the mud.

THE MEDIUM PRICE - ANOTHER FINE MESS (2.15 Chepstow)

Improved last time to win on his chase debut over this trip. There’s more to come.

THE BIGGEST PRICE - CHANCE ANOTHER ONE (3.35 Kempton)

A course and distance winner who’ll enjoy this drier ground returned to further.

The following runners may help boost your Bet Builders this weekend.

(Horses with a 100% place record under their favoured criteria)

One Horse Town (1:45) - placed 6 times from 6 runs ridden by Paul O'Brien
Double Oban (4:13) - placed 5 times from 5 runs over two miles
Answer To Kayf (3:15) - placed 4 times from 4 runs on heavy ground
Livin On Luco (2:43) - placed 3 times from 3 runs ridden by Callum Pritchard
The Doyen Chief (3:35) - placed 3 times from 3 runs over three miles

Therefore, One Horse Town to finish in the first three rates a 1/4 chance - or 1.25 in decimal.

Sean Bowen rode his 200th winner of the season on Friday.

Also on Friday, John Mackie trained a third winner from his last five runners. On Saturday, he runs Sold Out at Lingfield Park.

The ground continues to dry out at Kempton. Recent mudlovers beware.

► ITV4 (free): Kempton 1:10, 1:45, 2:25, 3:00, 3:35; Newcastle 2:43; Lingfield 1.25, 2.00; Fairyhouse 3:15.
► Sky Sports Racing (free): Chepstow, Newcastle, Lingfield, Fontwell, Hereford.
► Racing UK (subscription): Kempton, Chelmsford, Fairyhouse, Naas.

Next weekend sees Scotland’s most valuable hurdle race at Kelso, plus Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup and Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Cup.

There may even be some drier ‘spring ground’ by then.

In the meantime..

..keep ‘em peeled.