Four to the floor: Tizzard team eyeing more big-race success with Trophy squad

It could be another stellar Saturday for Colin Tizzard as the Betfair Chase-winning trainer readies a fabulous foursome for the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury - a race he has won twice in the last three years.

Still basking in the glow of Lostintranslation's excellent display at Haydock on Saturday, Team Tizzard are leaving nothing to chance as they attempt to become just the fifth yard to saddle back-to-back winners of the historic handicap, established in 1957 and previously run under the Hennessy banner.

Tizzard, who won the race last season with Sizing Tennessee and with Native River in 2016, is readying Mister Malarky, Elegant Escape, West Approach and Robinsfirth, with Mister Malarkey the shortest-priced of the quartet with the race sponsor on Monday night at 10-1.

Son and assistant Joe Tizzard said: "All four are looking highly likely to go. They're all the right sort for the race and the owners are all keen.

Mister Malarky: the Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices' Chase winner is one of four Tizzard entriesCredit: Mark Cranham

"There's really not a lot between any of them; you can make strong cases for all four. They deserve to be there and, all being well this week, they will be."

He continued: "Mister Malarky blew hard after his reappearance at Ascot but we couldn't find much of a reason why he ran a poor race. He looks well suited to this, as does West Approach, who's in the form of his life and is another who will love the soft ground."

West Approach was 12-1 with Ladbrokes on Monday evening, as was Elegant Escape, runner-up to stablemate Sizing Tennessee in the £250,000 Newbury showstopper last year and who returned to action when runner-up to Ballyoptic in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby this month.

Tizzard believes an improved performance is likely from Elegant Escape, who went one better in the Welsh National last season after his Newbury effort, and said: "He's definitely sharpened up a bit for his Charlie Hall run but has got top weight to deal with. However, he's a big strong horse who stays well and loves soft ground, so that should certainly play to his strengths."

Robinsfirth is the outsider of the four at around 20-1, and Tizzard added: "He had his wind tweaked this autumn. He has been tough to keep right throughout his career but is very good when he's right."

Willie Mullins is readying two runners to challenge for the prize he won with Total Recall in 2017.

That season Total Recall won the Munster National en route to Newbury, and Cabaret Queen is following the same path after an emphatic 13-length victory at Limerick in October.

The mare - second favourite at 7-1 behind 6-1 market leader OK Corral with Ladbrokes on Monday night - will become only the eighth of her sex to have contested the historic handicap since 1987.

Cabaret Queen: impressive at Limerick last timeCredit: Alain Barr

Mullins said: "She has a light weight and gallops, jumps and stays well. We are going there with a good deal of hope. She jumped effortlessly last time and I think the performance was down to her enjoying Irish fences and the extra distance."

Mullins, who confirmed Paul Townend would take the ride on the mare, also left the enigmatic Yorkhill in the field.

The nine-year-old has fallen 12lb since winning the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March 2017 but won for the first time since at the Galway festival in August.

Mullins added: "We looked at this race in the calendar and when a horse comes down that far in the handicap you have to take a chance at a big prize. He goes well left-handed and that should be a big advantage to him."

Galway Plate winner Borice will represent Gordon Elliott but stablemate Champagne Classic misses Newbury's showpiece event.

Ladbrokes Trophy entries and betting

Newbury clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said on Monday: "The going is good to soft with a band of showers arriving tomorrow evening through to Wednesday.

"If that plays out as anticipated we should be soft all over by the middle of the week. After that it is due to be dry on Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app