SILVER CUP
Saturday 21st December, 3pm
Vicctorino @ 13/8
The Changing Man @ 4/1
Trelawne @ 5/1
Heloy Delabarriere @ 15/2
Threeunderthrufive @ 11/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
Ascot’s £100,000 Howden Silver Cup (3-00) is one of the valuable three-mile chases that have become synonymous with Saturday cards during autumn and winter at the Royal racecourse. Despite the fields these days not including names of quite the calibre of the star runners of yesteryear – Arkle, Spanish Steps, Midnight Court and Door Latch spring to mind – a competitive festive puzzle is guaranteed.
THE MARKET
Last year’s winner Victtorino, trained by Venetia Williams, is 1–1–4 over course and distance (from only seven races since arriving from France) and is now a pound higher than when winning in 2023. He finished third at Newbury last month when not jumping fluently (an occasional flaw) and getting behind, before positively roaring home.
The Changing Man is a chasing maiden but has been aimed high; he’s up five pounds for finishing runner-up to another Williams runner, Frero Banbou, at Newcastle when putting in some untidy jumps.
Trelawne has a reputation for being a bit of a wayward so-and-so when he wants to be. However, no one has doubted his ability, and he looked more than reliable when gamely seeing off all-comers at Haydock last time.
Heloy Delabarriere is on a sizeable losing run, and his recent races have been over hurdles, but there are a few solid near-misses in there, and French challengers have been acquitting themselves well over here. Lightly-raced Threeunderthrufive gave Victtorino weight and a comprehensive beating over the course and distance in February, but the latter is better off at the weights.
Two For Gold is eleven but enjoys the track, and that was good form against his stablemate Chianti Classico in November. Hartur d’Arcwas beaten a long way at Cheltenham in November, but will enjoy the extra distance here, and course-regular Flegmatik was third last year and his mark is down.
THE WINNER
Victtorino’s obvious credentials plus his stable’s current purple patch are reflected in the price, so touching wood that Trelawne behaves, I’m with him after Haydock – what about you?
CORN’S QUARTET
The search for Britain’s first contender to gain top long-distance hurdle honours since Paisley Park continues in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle (2-25) in which several have sound claims. The best value may lie with the five-year-old Blueking d’Oroux, fifth a year ago and a fine second at Ascot over shorter last month.
In the finale (3-35), although certainly not the only one to consider, Secret Squirrel made a really promising return over the course and the distance in early November.
Trainer Nicky Richards, just out of hospital after suffering multiple injuries in a gallops-fall, will have been buoyed by the form of his string, and can reasonably expect more of the same when Famous Bridge goes for a Haydock repeat (2-05).
The most NH runners in Britain are at Hereford where the Kerry Lee stable has a number of decent chances, in particular Nemean Lion(2-13) which ran a fine second, with a big weight, first-time-out.
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