Last year’s Ladbrokes Trophy favourite could skip Saturday’s renewal in favour of trip to Newcastle as Harry Fry looks for the mud

LAST year's Ladbrokes Trophy smash up job American could skip Saturday's renewal in favour of a trip to Newcastle.

Harry Fry's hope was pulled-up in last year's running when the 5-1 favourite but found his feet as the season went on.

On his next start he split Bristol De Mai and Definitly Red before a crack at the Gold Cup was a step too far.

Despite being 3lbs lower in the weights this time around, punters are yet to warm to the eight-year-old and trainer Fry could head to Newcastle instead if the rain doesn't arrive at Newbury.

Fry said: "He has two options as he's in the Ladbrokes Trophy and the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and we're just keeping an eye on the weather.

"Obviously he is a better horse on softer ground, so the more rain we get the better.

"It looks like Noel (Fehily) is going to be at Newcastle for the Fighting Fifth (to ride Summerville Boy), so there's that to consider as well.

"We have to make a decision by 10am tomorrow (Thursday) with the Ladbrokes Trophy being a 48-hour declaration race.

"We want to run him in the race we think he has the best chance of winning, so we'll see.

"It's a big weekend and we'll try to make the right call by running the horses in the most suitable races."

American is a best-priced 16-1 for the Ladbrokes Trophy and 8-1 for the BetVictor Rehearsal Chase at Gosforth Park.

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Kemboy is disputing favouritism for the Newbury showpiece with some bookmakers as Willie Mullins bids to claim the prize for the second successive year following Total Recall's triumph 12 months ago.

However, he incurred a penalty for winning the Clonmel Oil Chase earlier this month and stable jockey Ruby Walsh feels he has plenty on his plate.

Walsh told Racing UK: "It was an impressive reappearance. He picked up a penalty for that win, which moves him to 11st 12lb, and carrying 11st 12lb in a Ladbrokes Trophy is a huge ask.

"Denman managed it twice and so did Trabolgan, but they were coming off the back of winning RSA Chases and Gold Cups.

"That's the sort of horse you need to carry 11st 12lb, so it will be a huge ask for him.

"He ticks a lot of the other boxes that statistics say you need to win a Ladbrokes Trophy - he's the right age, he's got the right profile, he's won four chases and won over three miles.

"But 11st 12lb is a huge burden to carry."