Harry Fry’s American heads British hopes in inaugural Ladbrokes Trophy Chase
Saturday's Ladbrokes Trophy Chase, formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, has been the long-term target for Harry Fry's fragile but hugely talented horse American.
HARRY FRY is hopeful American can extend his unbeaten record over fences to four in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury on Saturday.
The race, formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, has been a long-term target for the seven-year-old ever since American's stylish win at Uttoxeter in March.
Fry must feel a lot of the hard work is already done in just getting the fragile American to the Newbury showpiece in the first place, for which he is a with SunBets.
Fry said: "He did nothing wrong last season over fences. He was very good at Warwick and at Uttoxeter on his last start.
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"It's a big ask coming to a race like this first time out, but that's why he's been to Wincanton and Newbury (for racecourse gallops).
"We are happy with where he is and when he's right, he's very good."
Nicky Henderson, who has won the race with Trabolgan (2005), Bobs Worth (2012) and Triolo D'Alene (2013), fires a twin assault with Whisper and Vyta Du Roc.
The Seven Barrows handler said: "Whisper was great last year. He had a great time the whole way through before he bumped into Might Bite twice, otherwise he would have won two Grade Ones. He does deserve to win a real good race.
"I thought Vyta Du Rock ran very nicely at Aintree and he comes into this race in brilliant form.
"He has got stamina in abundance, that's for sure."
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"He's great. He had a good comeback run at Cheltenham and it will have brought him on a lot," said George.
Paul Nicholls landed successive renewals as a jockey aboard Broadheath (1986) and Playschool (1987) before scoring as a trainer with Strong Flow (2003) and twice with the great Denman (2007 and 2009).
This year's chief hope for the Ditcheat handler is Present Man, who has won his last two starts under leading conditional Bryony Frost, who keeps the ride.
Nicholls, who also saddles Braqueur D'Or, said: "Present Man has astonished us, to be honest.
"Two years ago Andy Stewart and Paul Barber owned him and they sold him to the Woodhouses saying he would be lucky to a small race around Wincanton.
"It is a like a lot of horses - he has just got older and stronger. I don't know where the improvement has come from, but his run the other day gives him every chance.
"The question at Wincanton was if he would get the trip in the ground, so stamina was an issue - but obviously it wasn't.
"He is still improving and who knows where he will end up. That was a career best at Wincanton and we'll see if there is more to come."
Nigel Twiston-Davies has scooped several big Saturday races in recent weeks and is double-handed in this contest with Cogry and last year's third, Double Ross.
Neil Mulholland will run three, including last year's runner-up Carole's Destrier, while Colin Tizzard (Royal Vacation), Alan King (Label Des Obeaux), Warren Greatrex (Missed Approach), Lucy Wadham (Potters Legend) and Rebecca Curtis (Bigbadjohn) train the remainder of the British runners.
No Irish trainer has won the famous race since 1980 but Noel Meade and Willie Mullins are sending over live contenders to try and stop the rot.