Update on the Ladbroke at Ascot

Emma Lavelle has enjoyed a fantastic autumn and the Hampshire trainer is hoping to continue her searing run of form into the cold heart of winter, with rising star Tocca Ferro among a fantastic 47-strong entry for the £150,000 The Ladbroke (2.40pm) at Ascot on Saturday, December 18.

The five-year-old, an 8/1 chance with Ladbrokes, could bid for a three-timer in the Listed two-mile handicap hurdle following a brace of victories this season in a Listed handicap hurdle over the course and distance in October and the Listed Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury on November 27.

Lavelle revealed today: “Tocca Ferro only ran on Saturday so consequently we will just see how he comes out of that race over the next couple of weeks, but if he’s bouncing, fresh and well, then the intention would be to run him in The Ladbroke.

“I was delighted with him at Newbury - he is getting more streetwise after each run. He did it well at Ascot the time before - he just got to the front and didn’t know what to do. Although he showed a little bit of the same trait again at Newbury, he had got his act together a bit more this time.

“He is going the right way, he is stronger and hopefully a better race will help him again - he is very exciting.”

A cracking entry also includes a strong contingent from the Nicky Henderson yard. The unbeaten Aegean Dawn, the 4/1 market leader with Ladbrokes, saw off the Alan King-trained Mille Chief (9/1) over the course and distance on November 19, General Miller (20/1) landed the Grade Two Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April and Oscar Whisky (16/1) met his only defeat to date when fourth in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The master of Seven Barrows has a fine record in The Ladbroke having scored with Chauvinist (2002), Jack The Giant (2007) and Sentry Duty (2008).

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has engaged Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Hurdle winner Sanctuaire (14/1), Toubab (8/1), Tito Bustillo (16/1) and Advisor (20/1).

The King-trained contingent also includes Salden Licht (10/1), as well as Manyriverstocross (10/1) who was third to the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Get Me Out Of Here (12/1) in last season’s totesport Trophy at Newbury.

Nearby (16/1) landed the Grade Two Elite Hurdle for trainer Philip Hobbs at Wincanton earlier this month before proving no match for Peddlers Cross in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle, and the latter’s trainer Donald McCain could rely on the smart novice Drill Sergeant (25/1).

Bothy (10/1) gave Menorah a fright when a narrow second in the Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier this month and is one of three Brian Ellison-trained entries alongside Ultimate (50/1) and Palomar (14/1), while David Pipe has engaged last season’s useful novices Notus De La Tour (12/1) and Hunterview (20/1).

There are six Irish-trained entries, headed by the John “Shark” Hanlon-trained Luska Lad (20/1), who landed a hat-trick of Grade Two victories last term and added a Punchestown Grade Three hurdle to his haul in October.

Son Amix (16/1) could line up for trainer Tom Cooper, while no Irish raid on a major handicap would be complete without a contender or two from the yard of Tony Martin, who has engaged Pires (10/1) and recent Down Royal winner Montan (20/1).

Others of note include the Ian Williams-trained Rebel Dancer (33/1), runner-up to Tocca Ferro at Newbury, the Venetia Williams-trained course and distance winner Art Professor (25/1), the Michael Smith-trained Grade One winner Orsippus (40/1), James De Vassey (25/1) and For Non Stop (10/1) from the in-form Nick Williams yard, the Evan Williams-trained Fiulin (33/1) and the smart Bygones Of Brid (33/1), trained by Karen McLintock.

The Ladbroke - Opening Show from Ladbrokes

THE LADBROKE

Class 1, Listed Race, £150,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.40pm, Ascot, Saturday, December 18, 2010. For 4yo rated 0-150. Two miles. Penalties: after December 5, a winner of a hurdle 6lb. No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed November 30, entries revealed December 1 (47 entries), weights revealed December 8, five-day confirmation stage December 13, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, December 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, November 29.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer

00-23 FIULIN 5 Robin Geffen Evan Williams

B11-52 MILLE CHIEF (FR) 4 McNeill Family Alan King

00/212-1 PIRES 6 Mrs E A Lawlor Tony Martin IRE

P/1350-0 SECRET DANCER (IRE) 5 BPD Ltd Alan Jones

THE LADBROKE HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR

(1987-2009)

Ascot, Saturday, December 18, 2010 run at Sandown in 2005 (January 7, 2006) and in 2004 (January 8, 2005); run at Leopardstown in January up to & including 2000

Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP