ELEGANT Escape (Colin Tizzard, 11st 2lb, including a 4lb penalty) has been installed as the 6/1 favourite for the feature £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy, the highly-prestigious three and a quarter mile handicap chase which takes place at Newbury on Saturday, December 1.

The six-year-old made a pleasing return to action when defeating Thomas Patrick (Tom Lacey, 10st 9lb, 7/1) by half-a-length in the Listed Future Stars Intermediate Chase over three miles at Sandown Park on Sunday, a race in which Coo Star Sivola (Nick Williams, 10st 10lb, 25/1) finished third and Terrefort (Nicky Henderson, 11st 5lb, 14/1) fourth.

The Tizzard stable, based on the Dorset-Somerset border, is seeking its second Ladbrokes Trophy success following on from the victory of Native River in 2016.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to his father, commented: “Elegant Escape did very well at Sandown. He is a horse we hold in high regard and has grown into his frame really well.

“He stays very well and he picked up nicely at Sandown. The Ladbrokes Trophy is the aim with him now and hopefully he will improve for the run. He is a second-season chaser and has a similar profile to Native River when he won the race in 2016.”

He continued: “We wanted to get a prep run into him and this was our last chance to run him and he couldn’t have gone any better. He will improve and Newbury does not inconvenience him as he has won at the track – the Ladbrokes Trophy has been the plan for a while.”

Following Tuesday’s scratchings’ deadline for the Ladbrokes Trophy, the weights are still headed by Elegant Escape’s stable companion Thistlecrack (11st 12lb, 16/1).

The Ladbrokes Trophy was captured by an Irish-trained horse, Total Recall, for the first time in 37 years in 2017 and there are 11 remaining Irish contenders.

Total Recall (Willie Mullins, 11st 3lb, 16/1) is one of eight remaining entries for Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins along with Al Boum Photo (11st 6lb, 12/1), Kemboy (11st 4lb, 16/1), Rathvinden (11st 1lb, 25/1), Invitation Only (10st 13lb, 25/1), Pairofbrowneyes (10st 8lb, 16/1), Up For Review (10st 7lb, 14/1) and Isleofhopendreams (10st 5lb, 14/1).

The next acceptances for the Ladbrokes Trophy are at the five-day confirmation stage on Monday, November 26.