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Ladbrokes Trophy attracts 18 runners

Vinndication has won three of his seven starts over fences
Vinndication has won three of his seven starts over fences

Ladbrokes Trophy favourite Vinndication will face 17 rivals in the valuable handicap at Newbury.

Ballyoptic heads the weight and will bid to give trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies a second success in Saturday's big race, formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, after King’s Road was triumphant 20 years ago.

The 10-year-old will have to bounce back, however, from being pulled up on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, won by Cyrname.

The Kim Bailey-trained Vinndication, Harriet Graham’s Aye Right and Warren Greatrex’s La Bague Au Roi – who were second, third and fifth respectively in the Charlie Hall – renew rivalry in the prestigious long-distance chase.

Paul Nicholls is two-handed, with Secret Investor and Danny Whizzbang, while Bailey also saddles Two For Gold.

Tom George’s Black Op and David Bridgwater’s Cheltenham Festival winner The Conditional – second in the Ladbrokes Trophy last year – have been well-supported in the ante-post market.

The Hollow Ginge is a second string to the Twiston-Davies bow, with Kildisart, Regal Encore and the Colin Tizzard-trained pair of Copperhead and Mister Malarky among others in the line-up.

Sam Brown was the only withdrawal at the 48-hour final declaration stage.

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