Mullins pair lead Trophy weights

Ebaziyan, winner of last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been handed top-weight of 11st 12lb for the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 9.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding won for the first time this season at Punchestown last weekend and is followed in the weights by veteran stable companion Adamant Approach (11st 8lb).

Amaretto Rose has been handed 11st 2lb with Tolworth Hurdle winner Breedsbreeze on 11st.

Ladbroke winner Jack The Giant would race off 10st 10lb if he were to revert back to hurdles with stable companion Blue Shark on 10st 7lb.

Other interesting contenders include Palomar on 10st 3lb and Pierse Hurdle fourth Roman Villa, who has been allotted 10st 2lb.

Palomar faces a 22lb rise after his facile win at Kempton last time but trainer Nicky Richards is still targeting the richly-endowed handicap.

“It just took a while for the penny to drop with him,” he said.

“He is very free-running and he used to sweat very freely as well, but Brian Harding and Tony Dobbin have done a lot of work with him.

“I think Newbury will be the target. It’s a bit upsetting to go up 22lb for winning by six lengths. Granted he won very easily, but if he has that much improvement in him is open to question,” he told At The Races.

Following the publication of the weights, Jack The Giant has been installed as 7-1 favourite by the sponsors.

“Nicky Henderson knows what it takes to lift the totesport Trophy and has indicated he will send Jack The Giant back over the smaller obstacles,” said totesport’s Paul Petrie .

“He looks well-weighted on 10st 10lb and, whilst not quite the good thing he was for the Ladbroke, he will still be the one to beat.”

totesport Trophy, sponsors bet: 7-1 Jack The Giant, 9-1 Breedsbreeze, 10-1 Deep Purple, 12-1 Amaretto Rose, Five Dream, Palomar, 14-1 Luxurix, Roman Villa, Song Of Songs, 16-1 Alsadaa, Blue Bajan, Blue Shark, Deutschland, Laustra Bad, Ring The Boss, Sweet Wake, 20-1 bar.