Mullins hoping hike in weights will not halt favourite Total Recall

Willie Mullins on Monday said he would keep to himself how well handicapped he regards Total Recall as his new recruit bids for a second big handicap win since joining Ireland's champion jumps trainer.

On his first start for Mullins Total Recall landed a gamble to win the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National last month with plenty in hand and heads to Newbury as the sponsor's 9-2 favourite for the Ladbrokes Trophy.

Total Recall won off a mark of 129, and in assessing his new rating of 147, BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith said he and his Irish counterpart had to "think of a number and then double it".

Mullins, who got the horse when Sandra Hughes retired, said: "When he came to us he looked like his mark was a little lower for the type of work he was doing here. We went to the Munster National where things went his way and he won very handy at the end.

"It's very hard to think he can win a second big handicap in a row. He's doing everything right. I don't know whether the handicapper has him right or not. If the weights stay as they are he has a lovely racing weight. We have a lot of things going for him.

"It's a huge test, three miles plus round Newbury. If he's good enough you need loads of stamina. I think he's that so we're hoping."

Asked what sort of mark Total Recall worked too, Mullins replied: "I think I'll have to keep that to myself."

Paul Townend will partner the favourite with riders yet to be decided for Pleasant Company, who is "definitely each way material", and Childrens List, who would "appreciate a week with no rain".

Three-time winner Nicky Henderson will have to find a new rider for Vyta Du Roc with his owners' retained rider Daryl Jacob unable to do the 10st 1lb the horse is set to carry.

Henderson is also set to saddle Whisper and said: "He has a similar profile to Trabolgan and Bobs Worth. They won the RSA, whereas Whisper got beaten a nose. To be fair he should've been beaten 24 noses in the RSA – it is only that Might Bite decided to have a detour to the Guinness tent!

"Whisper is handicapped accordingly and I'm not too worried about the hustle and bustle of Saturday’s race for him. He will have a cunning rider on board on Saturday in Davy Russell, who gets on with Whisper really, really well.

"We had a look at the Rehearsal and Becher for Vyta Du Roc, but he's going to run at Newbury in the Ladbrokes Trophy. My optimism comes from the fact he's had a run over hurdles at Aintree, the same day Top Notch ran. We saw how much good it did Top Notch when he won on Saturday."

Nigel Twiston-Davies has won successive Saturday features and is not discounting a third despite the odds of Cogry (14-1) and Double Ross (33-1).

"Cogry won well last time at Cheltenham," he said. "I don’t think the handicapper has ruined his mark. I think he has a very good chance, even if the bookmakers don’t think so! He was second in the Scottish National and he's a big player.

"Double Ross was third last year and unfortunately unseated my son a fortnight ago and then went on to win the race without a jockey. We probably made too much use of him at Newbury last year and will ride him with more restraint this time round."

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