Totesport Trophy market leaders all stand ground

MARKET leaders Spirit River, Harry Tricker and Ronaldo Des Mottes were on Monday among the 28 forfeits for the Totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Weights for the £150,000 handicap are headed by Blue Bajan, but Notus De La Tour and Pepe Simo, both general 16-1 shots for the Grade 3 contest, were not declared at the latest forfeit stage.

David Pipe's leading contender according to bookmakers is Ronaldo Des Mottes, who is 8-1 with the sponsor, although the trainer has a strong hand with Mamlook (10-1) and Mutual Friend (40-1) also entered.

Pipe saidon Monday: "I don't think it was a competitive hurdle at Kempton [that Ronaldo Des Mottes won]. He was impressive, though. Ground should be no problem and he has had a goodrun-up."

Pipe added that Timmy Murphy was likely to ride Ronaldo Des Mottes again, with Tom Scudamore in line to partner Mamlook.

Of Notus De La Tour,who had been just 12-1 with the sponsor, Pipe added on Monday: "We felt we would probably go straight to Cheltenham."