Willie Mullins targets Ladbrokes Trophy with Munster National winner Ontheropes

Willie Mullins will follow a tried-and-trusted route with Munster National winner Ontheropes, who, like Total Recall in 2017, will attempt to follow up last month's win at Limerick in the Ladbrokes Trophy on November 27.

Total Recall completed the same double when edging out Whisper in Newbury's prestigious Grade 3 handicap chase, and Ontheropes shares favouritism with the sponsors alongside Eklat De Rire, Enrilo and Fiddlerontheroof at 7-1 for this season's race.

"All being well the Ladbrokes Trophy is the plan for Ontheropes," said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud. "Everything that Willie has said to me is that this is his target.

Ladbrokes Trophy racecard and betting

"I'm told he is in good form and the Ladbrokes Trophy is the opportunity that we are looking at, and it would be nice to have him running over here. He has a profile that matches quite nicely to the race and he has had a good summer."

Ontheropes, who returned from more than ten months off the track to win the Munster National, was among 34 horses to remain in contention for Newbury's big race at the latest confirmation stage on Monday.

"It will be as competitive as ever," added Richardson. "Willie has one or two others in the Ladbrokes Trophy [Brahma Bull and Annamix] but certainly on his last performance, Ontheropes deserves to be right up there."

Royale Pagaille remains at the head of the weights for the Ladbrokes Trophy, although he also holds an entry in the Betfair Chase the previous weekend. Last year's winner Cloth Cap is expected to defend his crown at Newbury and is set to carry 11st 3lb at this stage.

Epatante: 9-4 favourite to defend her Fighting Fifth crownCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Epatante, winner of the 2020 Grade 1 Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle, has been installed 9-4 favourite by the sponsors for the race at Newcastle on the same afternoon after an initial entry of 21 was revealed.

Aintree hurdle winner Abacadabras and his Gordon Elliott-trained stablemates, Teahupoo and Zanahiyr, are other big-name entries, alongside the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral.

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "Both numerically and strength of depth, this is the strongest set of entries since we began sponsoring the race in 2019.

"Epatante is set to defend her crown but Monmiral will be looking to plant a flag for the younger generation and there is very little between them at 9-4 and 5-2 respectively."

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