Destrier out to go one place better at Newbury

Last year's runner-up Carole's Destrier bids to go one better in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Neil Mulholland's nine-year-old found only subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup third Native River too strong in the former Hennessy Gold Cup 12 months ago, but disappointed when rivalry was renewed in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

Carole's Destrier has not been seen in competitive action since that eclipse last Christmas, but Mulholland is confident his charge is fit and raring to go.

He said: "We are very happy with Carole's Destrier. He has been away a couple of times, including at Newbury last week, and we have had a good, clean preparation.

"He went there first time out last season and finished second. You can never go into a race like this bullish, but hopefully he will run well."

Carole's Destrier is one of three Mulholland representatives in the prestigious handicap as Pilgrims Bay and Southfield Royale are also in the mix.

Pilgrims Bay was sixth in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton last time, with Southfield Royale pulled up in the same race.

Mulholland added: "Pilgrims Bay is fine. The ground would have been a bit softer than he would have wanted at Wincanton and that run would have brought him on.

"They should go a nice gallop at Newbury, which will suit him, and fingers crossed he can play a part in the second half of the race.

"Southfield Royale has first-time blinkers. He has got the ability and, if the blinkers bring the best out of him, he could run very well."

Nico de Boinville is hopeful 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree can show his true colours, despite the burden of top weight.

The Mark Bradstock-trained 10-year-old suffered an overreach on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, but is reported to be firing on all cylinders as he bids to emulate his half-brother Carruthers, who claimed this prize in 2011.

De Boinville told Racing UK: "If he performs as he did in Punchestown (third in Punchestown Gold Cup in April), you'd like to think he'll have a very good shout.

"We pulled up at Wetherby because there was a problem and he hadn't really done much, but he feels good in himself and has come back from that over-reach."

Coneygree heads a 21-strong field for the three-and-a-quarter-mile feature.

Topping the ante-post betting is Total Recall, trained by Willie Mullins. The Closutton handler also runs Pleasant Company.

Harry Fry's American, Nicky Henderson's pair of Whisper and Vyta Du Roc and the Paul Nicholls-trained duo Present Man and Braqueur D'Or also stood their ground at Thursday's declaration stage.