Cloth Cap 'doing everything sweetly at home' before Ladbrokes Trophy defence

Jonjo O'Neill has issued a positive update on Cloth Cap as he prepares the nine-year-old to defend his crown in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

He won by ten lengths from Aye Right last season and followed up in the Premier Chase at Kelso on his next start in March. Cloth Cap was then sent off favourite for the Grand National the following month but was pulled up after making a respiratory noise.

Following wind surgery, Cloth Cap made his seasonal reappearance when fourth in a handicap chase at Cheltenham and O'Neill believes it was an ideal prep for his return to Newbury on November 27.

"I'm delighted with him, the same as I was last season," said the trainer. "He ran a lovely race at Cheltenham last time and has been working nicely. We just don't want any more rain.

"He ran a lovely comeback race and often takes a run. He's had that and is doing everything as sweetly as we could expect at home."

Ladbrokes Trophy racecard and betting

On his Cloth Cap's run in the Grand National in April, when he was pulled up with three fences to go, O'Neill added: "He was travelling and jumping well but unfortunately his wind gave up. He seemed fine last time and we've not had a problem with him at home."

The trainer could also run Soaring Glory at the meeting in the Listed Gerry Feilden Hurdle, won last year by Floressa for Nicky Henderson.

The six-year-old, who landed the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at the track last season and finished fourth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, scored on his reappearance in a Listed contest at Ascot in October.

Read these next:

'Davy Russell tells me he'll go on. I'll believe it when I see it, I think'

Tingle Creek, Welsh National and Becher Chase: potential runners and verdicts

Sign up to receive The Ante-Postman, Robbie Wilders' new weekly newsletter. Get weekend tips, Cheltenham Festival fancies and big-race selections delivered straight to your inbox.