TOTAL Recall (Willie Mullins IRE/Paul Townend, 10st 8lb, 9/2 Fav) became the first Irish-trained horse since Bright Highway in 1980 to land the £250,000 Greade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy by winning the three and a quarter mile handicap chase at Newbury on Saturday.

Always travelling well in mid-division, Paul Townend delivered his charge three out and looked set to go right away.

However, Whisper (Nicky Henderson/Davy Russell, 11st 8lb, 8/1) was a most tenacious opponent and it was only after a sustained duel up the run in that Total Recall overhauled him to emerge as the neck winner.

Outsider Regal Encore (Anthony Honeyball/Richie McLernon, 10st 11lb, 66/1) was third, another nine lengths back, of the 20 runners, with Braqueur D’Or (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden, 10st, 33/1) fourth.

Mullins said: “I think a lot of the credit must go to Sandra Hughes, who used her father’s methods and progressed very slowly with this horse. Sandra retired and we have just got the benefit of it.

“I thought Paul was fantastic, he was very cool. I thought he was beaten going to the last but he switched sides and got a different run on the other side. He has always been a good jockey and I am lucky to have him.

“The other horse was probably in front that little bit long and got tired. Paul made the best of that and his tactic of changing angles worked a treat.”

Total Recall is now a 20/1 chance with Ladbrokes for the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup and looking to the future, Mullins said: “We will look at more handicaps and he will be entered in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.”

Speaking about runner-up runner-up Whisper, Henderson said: “To be fair, Davy has given Whisper a wonderful ride. He always had room, he always had the horse in the right place and he jumped beautifully.

“I was worried about whether Whisper would be grown up enough – even though he is an older horse, he has only had five or six runs over fences – but he has run a great race.

“It seems a bit cruel to get done like that. I shouldn’t have got him that penalty at Kempton. He has run a fantastic race – it’s always annoying to get beaten but it was a good race.”

Other winners on Saturday included Dame Rose (Richard Hobson/Richard Johnson, 5/1) in the opening Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard/Harry Cobden, 5/1) in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase.

The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase went to Gold Present (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville, 11st 10lb, 13/2), with Old Guard (Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost (5) taking the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

The 9/4 favourite High Bridge (Ben Pauling/Mr Alex Ferguson, 11st 3lb) won the Intermediate Hurdle, while Overtown Express (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily, 11st 6lb, 13/2) won the closing Ladbrokes Handicap Chase.

Ladbrokes Trophy Day pulled in a crowd of 16,986 while Friday saw 8,431 racegoers – up 1,000 from 2016 – in attendance, watch 40/1 shot Beer Goggles (Richard Woollacott/Richard Johnson) stun former winners Thistlecrack and Unowhatimeanharry in the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle.