The Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury: Complete Guide

The Ladbrokes Trophy's story is really two stories: the long, storied era of the Hennessy Gold Cup, and its modern continuation under a new name. Together, they form one of the richest narratives in National Hunt racing.

The Birth of the Hennessy (1957)

The Hennessy Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1957, backed by the cognac house Hennessy — then one of the most glamorous sponsors in sport. The race was conceived as a premier staying handicap chase, designed to attract the best horses in training and provide a major test of stamina and jumping ability in the early part of the National Hunt season.

The choice of Newbury as the venue was inspired. The course's galloping layout, stiff fences, and reliable ground conditions made it ideal for a test of this nature. And the timing — late November — meant that the ground was usually testing enough to turn the race into a genuine war of attrition.

Mandarin won the first Hennessy, trained by Fulke Walwyn. It was an appropriately high-class start for what would become one of the most prestigious races in the calendar.

The Hennessy Era (1957–2016)

For 59 years, the Hennessy Gold Cup was one of the defining fixtures of the National Hunt season. The sponsorship was one of the longest-running and most recognisable in British sport, and "the Hennessy" became shorthand for a specific kind of race: a tough, demanding, often dramatic staying chase in late-November conditions.

The race's prestige grew steadily through the 1960s and 1970s. The arrival of Arkle in 1964 gave the race a moment that would be talked about forever (more on that in the great winners section). Mill House, Stalbridge Dolonel, and Charlie Potheen all added their names to a growing roll of honour.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, the Hennessy continued to attract top-class fields. Burrough Hill Lad, Bregawn, and Couldn't Be Better all won during this period, and the race consistently served as a key trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following March.

The connection between the Hennessy and the Gold Cup became one of the most analysed form lines in racing. A good run at Newbury in November was widely regarded as one of the best indicators of Gold Cup potential, and many of the finest staying chasers of the era used the Hennessy as a stepping stone to Cheltenham glory.

The Transition to Ladbrokes (2016)

In 2016, after nearly six decades, Hennessy withdrew its sponsorship. Changes to advertising regulations for alcohol brands in sport, combined with evolving corporate priorities, brought the famous partnership to an end. It was a genuine wrench for the racing community — "the Hennessy" had been part of the sport's vocabulary for generations.

Ladbrokes stepped in as the new sponsor, and the race became the Ladbrokes Trophy. The transition was handled with sensitivity: the race conditions remained unchanged, the Newbury venue was preserved, and the racing press emphasised continuity rather than rupture.

The Ladbrokes Trophy Era

Under its new name, the race has continued to produce quality renewals. Native River won the first Ladbrokes Trophy in 2016 before going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Cloth Cap produced a spectacular front-running effort. Ahoy Senor and other top chasers have added their names to a roll of honour that stretches back to Mandarin.

The race has also continued to serve its traditional role as a Gold Cup trial. Trainers still treat the Ladbrokes Trophy as one of the most important early-season assignments for their staying chasers, and the Newbury-to-Cheltenham form line remains one of the most reliable in the sport.

While many fans still call it "the Hennessy" — old habits die hard — the Ladbrokes Trophy has earned its own identity. The race is the thing, and the race is as good as it's ever been.

The Ladbrokes Trophy (and its predecessor the Hennessy Gold Cup) has been won by some of the most celebrated chasers in racing history. These are the horses that defined the race.

Arkle (1964)

No discussion of this race is complete without Arkle. The great Irish chaser came to Newbury in November 1964 as the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champion, carrying a colossal 12st 7lb in a competitive handicap. The weight should have anchored him. Instead, he produced one of the most extraordinary performances in racing history.

Under Pat Taaffe, Arkle jumped superbly, travelled effortlessly, and cruised past his rivals on the home turn as though they were standing still. The winning distance was officially a neck, but only because Taaffe eased him down near the line. It was a performance of breathtaking superiority — carrying top weight in a handicap as though it were a conditions race. Arkle's Hennessy remains the single most famous moment in this race's history.

Mandarin (1957)

The very first Hennessy winner, Mandarin was a proper staying chaser trained by the great Fulke Walwyn. Tough, brave, and relentless, he set the template for the type of horse this race rewards. Mandarin went on to further fame — including his legendary Grand Steeplechase de Paris victory with a broken bit — but his Hennessy win was the performance that first announced him as a top-class chaser.

Denman (2007, 2009)

If Arkle's victory was the most famous, Denman's two wins might be the most dramatic. His first Hennessy in 2007, carrying 11st 12lb, was a display of raw, unstoppable power. Sam Thomas sat motionless as the big horse bulldozed through the race, galloping his rivals into the ground with relentless stamina. The crowd was stunned by the sheer dominance.

Denman returned in 2009 — after a Gold Cup win and a subsequent battle with a heart condition — to win the Hennessy again under top weight. It was an emotional victory that confirmed his recovery and his enduring class. Two Hennessy wins, both under big weights, cemented Denman's status as one of the great staying chasers.

Many Clouds (2014)

Many Clouds won the Hennessy under top weight in 2014, and the performance flagged him as a potential Gold Cup horse. He delivered on that promise by winning the Grand National at Aintree the following April — one of only a handful of horses to win both races. His Hennessy victory was characterised by honest galloping and brave jumping, the same qualities that served him so well at Aintree.

Native River (2016)

The first winner of the race under its Ladbrokes Trophy branding, Native River powered through testing ground under top weight to win in 2016. Trained by Colin Tizzard, he was a relentless galloper who thrived on heavy ground — exactly the conditions Newbury provided that November. Native River went on to win the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, continuing the race's proud tradition of producing Gold Cup winners.

The Common Thread

What unites these great winners is stamina, courage, and jumping ability. The Ladbrokes Trophy isn't won by flashy speed merchants — it's won by tough, genuine staying chasers who handle testing ground and keep galloping when others stop. That's what makes this race so compelling: it finds the real thing.

The Ladbrokes Trophy presents a unique test that demands specific qualities from its runners. Understanding the course conditions and what they ask of a horse is the first step towards finding the winner.

The Chase Course at Newbury

The race is run over three miles and two furlongs on Newbury's left-handed chase course. The circuit is broadly oval, wide, and galloping, with well-built fences that demand respect. There are thirteen fences to jump in total, including the three in the back straight that often prove decisive.

Those back-straight fences deserve special attention. Taken at speed with a large field still tightly bunched, they're where mistakes happen and where loose horses can cause interference. A horse that jumps cleanly and fluently through the back straight gains a significant advantage over rivals who are getting in tight or being hampered.

The run from the final fence to the winning post is approximately 200 yards. That's long enough for a horse that's been outjumped at the last to rally and get back up, but short enough that a significant mistake at the final fence can prove fatal to your chances. Good jumping throughout, not just at the last, is essential.

The Going Factor

Late November ground at Newbury is almost always on the soft side or worse. In many years, the going reads soft, heavy in places — or simply heavy. This is a fundamental characteristic of the race and one that shapes the entire contest.

Heavy ground transforms the Ladbrokes Trophy from a galloping test into a war of attrition. Horses need genuine stamina to see out the trip in testing conditions, and those without proven heavy-ground form are often found wanting in the final half-mile. The race frequently produces finishes where tired horses struggle up the straight, and it's the one with the deepest reserves of stamina that prevails.

Key point: In years when the ground is unusually good (good to soft or better), the race can take on a completely different character — more tactical, less attritional. These renewals tend to produce tighter finishes and can favour classier horses that might struggle in a genuine slog.

Field Size and Handicap Conditions

The Ladbrokes Trophy typically attracts fields of 15 to 20 runners, making it one of the most competitive handicap chases of the season. The race is open to horses aged five and over, carrying weights determined by the handicapper based on official ratings.

The wide range of weights (typically from around 10st to 11st 12lb) means that lightly weighted horses have a theoretical advantage, but the race has a strong tradition of top-weighted horses winning — Arkle, Denman, Native River, and Many Clouds all defied big weights. This is a race where class can overcome the handicap, particularly when the ground is testing and lesser horses can't cope.

What the Course Demands

In summary, the Ladbrokes Trophy asks for: proven stamina beyond three miles, clean jumping under pressure, the ability to handle soft or heavy ground, and the courage to keep galloping when the race turns into a battle. Horses that tick all four boxes are rare — and that's why finding the winner of this race is such a satisfying achievement.

The Ladbrokes Trophy is one of the best betting races of the entire National Hunt season. Big fields, competitive handicap marks, and testing conditions create a puzzle that rewards thorough preparation. Here are the key angles to consider.

Ground Preferences Are Non-Negotiable

This is the single most important factor in the Ladbrokes Trophy. When the ground is soft or heavy — which it is in most years — horses without proven form on testing ground are at a massive disadvantage. Don't be tempted by a horse with flashy form on good ground that hasn't proven it can handle a genuine slog.

Practical approach: Before the race, go through every runner's form and note their record on soft and heavy ground specifically. Eliminate any horse whose best form is exclusively on good ground. The remaining runners are your starting point.

The Gold Cup Connection

The Ladbrokes Trophy has an outstanding record of producing future Cheltenham Gold Cup winners and placed horses. Denman, Native River, Bobs Worth, and Many Clouds all won the Hennessy/Ladbrokes Trophy before going on to win at Cheltenham or Aintree.

This connection works as a betting angle in two ways. First, it means you should respect horses in the Ladbrokes Trophy that have Gold Cup-level ability — they're running in a handicap, but their class can overcome the weight. Second, it means the Ladbrokes Trophy result is a valuable form guide for ante-post Gold Cup betting.

Weight and Class

In most handicaps, top weight is a disadvantage. In the Ladbrokes Trophy, that rule is less reliable. The race has a remarkable history of top-weighted winners — Arkle (12st 7lb), Denman (11st 12lb), Many Clouds (11st 6lb), Native River (11st 12lb). When a genuine Grade 1 horse drops into this handicap with a big weight, they're always dangerous.

That said, value often lies lower in the handicap. A horse rated in the 140s, well handicapped and suited by the conditions, can outrun huge prices. Big-field handicaps are where each-way betting thrives, and the Ladbrokes Trophy is no exception.

Trainer Records

Certain trainers have a particular affinity with this race. Paul Nicholls has won it multiple times and always has his runners well-prepared for the specific demands of late-November Newbury. Nicky Henderson, based locally at Lambourn, has a strong overall record at the course and targets this race with genuine contenders.

Colin Tizzard (now retired, with the operation continued by Joe Tizzard) had an excellent record in the race, and the Tizzard yard's staying chasers at Newbury always demand respect. Venetia Williams, whose horses thrive on heavy ground, is another trainer worth following when conditions are testing.

Pace and Positioning

In big-field chases on soft ground, the pace is often fierce. Horses that race prominently and jump well tend to outperform closers in testing conditions, simply because making up ground on heavy ground saps extra energy. Look for horses with a racing style that suits a strong gallop — those who travel well in mid-division and can pick off tiring rivals from the home turn.

Front-runners can also prosper if they're allowed to dictate. Cloth Cap's brave front-running display showed that a bold ride can pay dividends when the pace is genuine and the pursuing pack struggles to close.

The Each-Way Angle

With 15-20 runners and prices ranging from 5/1 to 33/1 across the field, each-way betting is the natural approach to the Ladbrokes Trophy. Four or five places are usually available with most bookmakers, and the nature of the race — competitive, unpredictable, with stamina and ground preferences creating clear angles — means that finding a value each-way selection at 10/1 or bigger is achievable with proper preparation.