ELEGANT Escape will try to realise a long-term plan when he lines up in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday week.

The Colin Tizzard-trained six-year-old was placed three times at the top level last term and warmed up for his Grade Three handicap assignment with victory in an intermediate chase at Sandown earlier this month.

Elegant Escape won by just half a length on that occasion, but assistant trainer Joe Tizzard expects that outing to have brought about plenty of improvement in the ante-post favourite.

He said: “He has been good and is a horse that will definitely sharpen up for the run. He is quite laid-back at home and with the ground as it was, we weren’t able to get away so we were really keen to get a race into him.

“I thought he performed really well and Tom O’Brien was really happy with him. He didn’t really get stuck into him and had he jumped the last, he thought he would have won a bit better.”

On what might be for Elegant Escape should all go well, Tizzard added: “It would have to be natural progression (to be a Gold Cup horse). He is very similar to Native River and that is certainly in the back of our minds.

“But he has got to step up on what he has done and has got to win a Ladbrokes Trophy, then step up again.”

Meanwhile, having won the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle with Slate House 12 months ago, Colin Tizzard saw the Grade Two prize head his way again after Elixir De Nutz (5-1) beat Itchy Feet by a length and a quarter.

The Milborne Port handler said he had “a lot of business” to do on hurdles with Elixir De Nutz before moving to chasing.

Tizzard said: “He will be a chaser, but we’ve got a bit of business to do over novice hurdles before then.”

There was more success for Tizzard when Master Debonair (3-1) held on by a neck to take the Listed High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Standard National Open National Hunt Flat Race. Tizzard said: “He travelled beautifully, almost too well.

“He stuck on well when they all came and had a go at him. I’m sure there will be some debate whether we leave him for the Festival because that was his third run.”