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Sign Of A Victory heads 41 entries for The Ladbroke at Ascot on December 20
Sign Of A Victory (5/1 favourite with Ladbrokes) stars among 41 entries for the £150,000 The Ladbroke Hurdle, the famous Grade Three handicap hurdle run over two miles at Ascot on Saturday, December 20.
The exciting five-year-old is as short as 20/1 for this season's Champion Hurdle following a facile victory in the Listed William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on November 1.
His trainer Nicky Henderson has recorded three triumphs in The Ladbroke since it was moved to Ascot in 2001, courtesy of Chauvinist (2002), Jack The Giant (2007) and Sentry Duty (2008). The Seven Barrows handler has also entered Vyta Du Roc (12/1), winner of a Grade Two novice contest at Cheltenham last month, Lyvius (16/1), Dawalan (20/1), Cool Macavity (33/1) and Snake Eyes (14/1).
There are six Irish-trained entries, headed by Greatwood Handicap Hurdle third Clondaw Warrior (Willie Mullins, 8/1), plus the Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Bayan (12/1)and Shadow Catcher (33/1).
Noel Meade has entered Waxies Dargle (16/1) on the back of a two and a half-length victory in a two-mile hurdle at Fairyhouse on November 19. The five-year-old shaped with promise when third on his reappearance in a valuable handicap hurdle at Down Royal on November 1.
Meade reported: "We will have to see what weight we get, what has top-weight and what the race is looking like before we commit, but The Ladbroke is something we will consider for Waxies Dargle.
"He has taken his race at Fairyhouse well and is in good form. On ratings, he was entitled to win it and he did it well enough.
"I think he is a nice horse and we hoped he had improved a bit coming into this season because some of the horses were not quite right in the spring.
"If the ground is soft at Ascot, I would say that will not be an inconvenience to him."
The Irish contenders are completed by Pyromaniac (Tony Martin, 14/1), who was third to Vyta Du Roc at Cheltenham, and Sea Beat (Arthur Moore, 14/1).
Dan Skelton took last year's renewal with Willow's Saviour in his debut season as a trainer and could rely on Shelford (16/1), who annexed the Grade Three Silver Trophy at Chepstow on October 25.
In-form handler Philip Hobbs has entered Greatwood Handicap Hurdle hero Garde La Victoire (8/1) and exciting novice Hello George (16/1), while champion trainer Paul Nicholls' two contenders are headed by easy Exeter winner Dormello Mo (12/1).
Other notable contenders include potential top-weight Zamdy Man (Venetia Williams, 14/1), who pushed The New One on his seasonal return at Haydock Park on November 22, Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle scorer Activial (Harry Fry, 12/1) and Goodwood Mirage (10/1), one of two entries for trainer Jonjo O'Neill.
The weights for The Ladbroke are revealed on Wednesday, December 10.
The off time for The Ladbroke in 2014 will be 3.30pm. This is five minutes earlier than last year in order to maximise the amount of light available.
The Ladbroke - Ladbrokes bet: 5/1 Sign Of A Victory; 8/1 Garde La Victoire, Clondaw Warrior; 10/1 Goodwood Mirage; 12/1 Vyta Du Roc, Bayan, Activial, Dormello Mo; 14/1 Zamdy Man, Foxcub, Pyromaniac, Balgarry, Snake Eyes, Sea Lord; 16/1 Waxies Dargle, Lyvius, Pine Creek, Leviathan, Shelford, Sea Beat, Hello George; 20/1 Swing Bowler, Red Merlin, Art Mauresque, Dawalan; 25/1 Get Me Out of Here, Ballyglasheen, Claret Cloak, Bordoni, Baradari; 33/1 Kilcooley, Shadow Catcher, Cool Macavity, Sleepy Haven; 40/1 Ruacana, Gassin Golf, Dubawi Island; 50/1 Chesil Beach Boy, Minellaforleisure, Bothy,Jebril (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)
Hayley O'Connor of the sponsors said: "The Ladbroke is always one of the highlights for punters over the festive season and this looks another ultra-competitive renewal.
"Champion Hurdle hopeful Sign Of A Victory heads our opening show followed by the Greatwood Hurdle winner Garde La Victoire and there's a strong challenge from Ireland's top yards also in the mix."
Reve De Sivola chasing hat-trick in JLT Long Walk Hurdle
Reve De Sivola could bid for a hat-trick of wins in the £100,000 Grade One JLT Long Walk Hurdle (12 entries) over three miles and a furlong at Ascot on Saturday, December 20. The prize money jumps to £125,000 if there eight or more runners.
The Nick Williams-trained nine-year-old slammed Smad Place by 14 lengths in 2012 and recorded another wide margin victory when beating Salubrious by 10 lengths last year.
Williams has also entered promising five-year-old Aubusson, who made all to land the competitive Grade Three Betfair 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle by a length and three quarters on November 22.
Williams said: "The JLT Long Walk Hurdle is definitely the aim for Reve De Sivola.
"He has been absolutely fine since his run at Auteuil and there have been no problems. I thought he ran OK there considering the ground was quicker than he would like.
"I think it is the heavy ground more than anything else that has suited him so well in the Long Walk for the past two years. He has always liked that sort of ground because he is big and strong, whereas a lot of other horses struggle to cope with it.
"We have also put Aubusson in the Long Walk but I would say he is unlikely to run. He would only run if something went wrong with Reve De Sivola."
Beat That confirmed himself as last season's top staying novice hurdler with Grade One victories at Aintree and Punchestown. His trainer Nicky Henderson has also entered Blue Fashion, runner-up to Faugheen in the Coral Ascot Hurdle over just short of two and a half miles on November 22.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could rely on Zarkandar, a Grade One victor at Auteuil on November 1, while Ireland's champion Willie Mullins has engaged multiple Grade One scorers Briar Hill and Zaidpour.
Sign Of A Victory (5/1 favourite with Ladbrokes) stars among 41 entries for the £150,000 The Ladbroke Hurdle, the famous Grade Three handicap hurdle run over two miles at Ascot on Saturday, December 20.
The exciting five-year-old is as short as 20/1 for this season's Champion Hurdle following a facile victory in the Listed William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on November 1.
His trainer Nicky Henderson has recorded three triumphs in The Ladbroke since it was moved to Ascot in 2001, courtesy of Chauvinist (2002), Jack The Giant (2007) and Sentry Duty (2008). The Seven Barrows handler has also entered Vyta Du Roc (12/1), winner of a Grade Two novice contest at Cheltenham last month, Lyvius (16/1), Dawalan (20/1), Cool Macavity (33/1) and Snake Eyes (14/1).
There are six Irish-trained entries, headed by Greatwood Handicap Hurdle third Clondaw Warrior (Willie Mullins, 8/1), plus the Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Bayan (12/1)and Shadow Catcher (33/1).
Noel Meade has entered Waxies Dargle (16/1) on the back of a two and a half-length victory in a two-mile hurdle at Fairyhouse on November 19. The five-year-old shaped with promise when third on his reappearance in a valuable handicap hurdle at Down Royal on November 1.
Meade reported: "We will have to see what weight we get, what has top-weight and what the race is looking like before we commit, but The Ladbroke is something we will consider for Waxies Dargle.
"He has taken his race at Fairyhouse well and is in good form. On ratings, he was entitled to win it and he did it well enough.
"I think he is a nice horse and we hoped he had improved a bit coming into this season because some of the horses were not quite right in the spring.
"If the ground is soft at Ascot, I would say that will not be an inconvenience to him."
The Irish contenders are completed by Pyromaniac (Tony Martin, 14/1), who was third to Vyta Du Roc at Cheltenham, and Sea Beat (Arthur Moore, 14/1).
Dan Skelton took last year's renewal with Willow's Saviour in his debut season as a trainer and could rely on Shelford (16/1), who annexed the Grade Three Silver Trophy at Chepstow on October 25.
In-form handler Philip Hobbs has entered Greatwood Handicap Hurdle hero Garde La Victoire (8/1) and exciting novice Hello George (16/1), while champion trainer Paul Nicholls' two contenders are headed by easy Exeter winner Dormello Mo (12/1).
Other notable contenders include potential top-weight Zamdy Man (Venetia Williams, 14/1), who pushed The New One on his seasonal return at Haydock Park on November 22, Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle scorer Activial (Harry Fry, 12/1) and Goodwood Mirage (10/1), one of two entries for trainer Jonjo O'Neill.
The weights for The Ladbroke are revealed on Wednesday, December 10.
The off time for The Ladbroke in 2014 will be 3.30pm. This is five minutes earlier than last year in order to maximise the amount of light available.
The Ladbroke - Ladbrokes bet: 5/1 Sign Of A Victory; 8/1 Garde La Victoire, Clondaw Warrior; 10/1 Goodwood Mirage; 12/1 Vyta Du Roc, Bayan, Activial, Dormello Mo; 14/1 Zamdy Man, Foxcub, Pyromaniac, Balgarry, Snake Eyes, Sea Lord; 16/1 Waxies Dargle, Lyvius, Pine Creek, Leviathan, Shelford, Sea Beat, Hello George; 20/1 Swing Bowler, Red Merlin, Art Mauresque, Dawalan; 25/1 Get Me Out of Here, Ballyglasheen, Claret Cloak, Bordoni, Baradari; 33/1 Kilcooley, Shadow Catcher, Cool Macavity, Sleepy Haven; 40/1 Ruacana, Gassin Golf, Dubawi Island; 50/1 Chesil Beach Boy, Minellaforleisure, Bothy,Jebril (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)
Hayley O'Connor of the sponsors said: "The Ladbroke is always one of the highlights for punters over the festive season and this looks another ultra-competitive renewal.
"Champion Hurdle hopeful Sign Of A Victory heads our opening show followed by the Greatwood Hurdle winner Garde La Victoire and there's a strong challenge from Ireland's top yards also in the mix."
Reve De Sivola chasing hat-trick in JLT Long Walk Hurdle
Reve De Sivola could bid for a hat-trick of wins in the £100,000 Grade One JLT Long Walk Hurdle (12 entries) over three miles and a furlong at Ascot on Saturday, December 20. The prize money jumps to £125,000 if there eight or more runners.
The Nick Williams-trained nine-year-old slammed Smad Place by 14 lengths in 2012 and recorded another wide margin victory when beating Salubrious by 10 lengths last year.
Williams has also entered promising five-year-old Aubusson, who made all to land the competitive Grade Three Betfair 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle by a length and three quarters on November 22.
Williams said: "The JLT Long Walk Hurdle is definitely the aim for Reve De Sivola.
"He has been absolutely fine since his run at Auteuil and there have been no problems. I thought he ran OK there considering the ground was quicker than he would like.
"I think it is the heavy ground more than anything else that has suited him so well in the Long Walk for the past two years. He has always liked that sort of ground because he is big and strong, whereas a lot of other horses struggle to cope with it.
"We have also put Aubusson in the Long Walk but I would say he is unlikely to run. He would only run if something went wrong with Reve De Sivola."
Beat That confirmed himself as last season's top staying novice hurdler with Grade One victories at Aintree and Punchestown. His trainer Nicky Henderson has also entered Blue Fashion, runner-up to Faugheen in the Coral Ascot Hurdle over just short of two and a half miles on November 22.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could rely on Zarkandar, a Grade One victor at Auteuil on November 1, while Ireland's champion Willie Mullins has engaged multiple Grade One scorers Briar Hill and Zaidpour.
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