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Fry wants to make American great again in Ladbrokes Trophy

Trainer Harry Fry at Exeter Racecourse
Image: Trainer Harry Fry

Harry Fry insists he would not swap American for any other horse in the Ladbrokes Trophy after seeing his charge enjoy a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Tuesday morning.

The lightly-raced seven-year-old won each of his three starts over fences last season and rounded off his campaign with a dominant display at Uttoxeter in March.

He is 7-1 second-favourite with the race sponsors for Newbury's showpiece event on Saturday week and Fry expressed his delight after American and jockey Noel Fehily worked alongside stablemate Overtown Express, ridden by Niall Madden, at the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival official gallops morning.

Fry said: "That was ideal. We took him to Wincanton 10 days ago and he's come on nicely for that.

"He jumped the three down the back straight perfectly and strode on up the straight.

"There's 12 days to go now and it's all systems go."

With the fragile gelding having a well-publicised preference for soft ground, the Seaborough-based trainer is pleased to see rain is forecast.

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Fry added: "If the forecast is correct, there's plenty of rain coming at the end of the week and at this time of year it doesn't dry up too much. With a bit of rain forecast, it should keep it on the slow side.

"I've put him in the Welsh National, only really as a back-up. He's a horse that doesn't run too regularly and he has got that entry (at Chepstow), but it's all about a week on Saturday.

"It's a huge race in its own right and I would not swap him for anything in the race, and neither would Noel."

Coneygree also delighted his connections after enjoying a spin in the hands of David Bass. The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, suffering a nasty cut, but trainer Mark Bradstock is confident he is back on-song. Bradstock, who won the race in 2011 when it was known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, said: "We brought him here for a confidence-booster after his mishap at Wetherby. He jumped three fences and all went tickety-boo. "He jumped three fences superbly. David (Bass) had never sat on him before in his life and was absolutely over the moon and wanted to go round again. "We schooled him yesterday (Monday). Sean Bowen came in and rode him as Nico (de Boinville) had to go racing. That went very well as well. "He came back from Wetherby with a nasty cut on his foot. Touching every piece of wood, it looks all right after this performance. "Fingers crossed we will be back in 12 days. It's all systems go for the Ladbrokes Trophy." Nicky Henderson is set to fire a twin assault with Whisper and Vyta Du Roc. Having finished second to esteemed stablemate Might Bite at Cheltenham and Aintree last spring, Whisper made a successful return in a two-runner race at Kempton last week. Vyta Du Roc blew away the cobwebs by running over hurdles at Aintree. Henderson said: "I know nobody likes watching two-horse races, but that was perfect for Whisper. He definitely needed a run and he was not going to able to run here without one. "Vyta Du Roc ran in a hurdle race at Aintree and, like Whisper, he needed it. Both have come on a lot for it, both will do a bit of work this weekend and then hopefully be ready to attack." Carole's Destrier was beaten just half a length into second by Native River in last year's renewal and though he has not been seen in competitive action since disappointing in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow last December, trainer Neil Mulholland is delighted with his condition. He said: "He has been very good. He had a racecourse gallop a couple of weeks ago. "He was intended to run at Ascot (Sodexo Gold Cup, November 4) but we took him out on the day because of the ground. "He has been good since his racecourse gallop and he has come here to freshen up." The Warren Greatrex-trained Missed Approach was runner-up in the National Hunt Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival before finishing eighth in the Scottish Grand National. He was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Wetherby earlier this month but also caught the eye in a Newbury racecourse gallop. Greatrex said: "That was good. He doesn't do a tap at home. I was chuffed to bits. "He's got a great weight (in the Ladbrokes Trophy). He likes this track and he has won around here before. "He is a good jumper and stays very well. I think his best ever run was in the Scottish National when he was still leading going to two out. "He has worn cheekpieces before, but it's just whether I go for blinkers with one hit. I am just pondering that one."

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