Plate hero Borice set for Ladbrokes Trophy but Champagne Classic misses out

Galway Plate winner Borice will represent Gordon Elliott in the Ladbrokes Trophy on Saturday but stablemate Champagne Classic will miss Newbury's showpiece event.

The Galway success was Borice’s fourth over fences and his first chase victory since the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned eight-year-old joined Elliott from France last year.

Elliott said: “Borice is in good form and is an intended runner at Newbury. However, Champagne Classic won’t be travelling. We’ve decided to wait until Christmas before running him again and he’ll have plenty of entries over the holiday period.”

Champagne Classic, who is two from two over fences this season, enjoyed two big wins as a novice hurdler in 2017, landing the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and a three-mile Grade 1 contest at Punchestown.

Cabaret Queen, who will bid to give Willie Mullins a second Ladbrokes Trophy, carries the hopes of the 69-strong Syndicates Racing who bought the mare for £13,000 at Goffs UK Sales in May.

Ladbrokes Trophy entries and betting

After two starts for her new connections the mare has won more than €66,000 and was a 13-length winner of the Ladbrokes Munster National at Limerick last month.

Most of those involved in Cabaret Queen are first-time owners and among them are a poet, professional golfer and postman Paul Fetton who said: “I wouldn’t be expecting her to win, I would be more of a fatalist, but I wasn’t expecting her to win at Limerick. She was hugely impressive that day. She jumped them into the ground, but she's running off a much higher mark in the Ladbrokes Trophy."

Laurina could offer Mullins festive cheer

Mullins offered an update on the impressive Racing Post Arkle favourite Laurina following her successful chasing debut at Gowran on Saturday, but plans for the mare have yet to be determined.

“Laurina came out of Saturday’s race well," he said. "It was a very pleasing performance for her first run over fences and there is plenty to look forward to with her. We’ll have to decide whether to keep her at two and a half miles, drop down to two miles or maybe go up in trip. She’ll have plenty of options over Christmas.”

The Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown is the target for her eight-length victim Minella Indo.

Minella Indo: second to the talented Laurina on his chase debutCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Minella Indo was a Grade 1 winner over three miles at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals last season, and his trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “I was happy with him at Gowran. He jumped great. He is a three-miler and he will go for the three-mile Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown next.

“He might be the only horse in history never to have won a beginners' chase or a maiden hurdle! If he can keep landing Grade 1s, we won't mind too much.

"You never like to see your good horses getting beaten, but he was beaten by a very good mare over an inadequate trip. It was a lovely first run and I loved the way he jumped all the way down the back."

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