15:00 Ascot

Saturday 23 December 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 9.4s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Ptit Zig^b⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 156| C

25/1

Returned to chasing after a two year sojourn and was not fluent when third of four to Top Notch. May jump better now moving up to 3m but he has a tough task from the top of the weights.

Form: 862-843

O O Seven²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| D

11/1

Topham fourth and that will be his target this term. Goes well fresh so no surprise to see him produce a big run on return, but this longer trip around here is a concern.

Form: 13154-3

Go Conquer⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 151| CD

11/1

Trainer has reportedly "tweaked things" during the summer and the result is a much improved jumper who has the Grand National as a legitimate target. Another big show is expected despite a further hefty rise.

Form: 2250-11

Frodon^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 151

8/1

Has been skilfully placed to make it 6-13 over fences but finding the right race has been proving harder lately. This looks another tough test.

Form: 115-323

Regal Encore^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 150| CD

9/1

Third in the Ladbrokes Trophy last time and took this in 2016. Remains 6lb above that winning mark and others make more appeal despite the current form of the yard.

Form: P1P8-03

Yala Enki^p1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 149| C

12/1

Suited to soft ground and looked more like his usual self when third under topweight in the Rehearsal Chase. Cheekpieces added by a trainer who has one winner and three placed from six runners in this.

Form: 1441-P3

Singlefarmpayment^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 147| D

5/1

Went down narrowly in the Ultima at Cheltenham in March. Supported for the Ladbrokes Trophy three weeks ago and was in the process of getting competitive when coming down three out. Goes well here and has a decent prize in him.

Form: 21B2-2F

Gold Present²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

17/2

Usually a good jumper but showed a tendency to jump right at Newbury on return. That should be straightened out around here but he may not want ground as soft as this, particularly off a career high mark.

Form: 1522F-1

On Tour²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 140| D

8/1

Suited to patient handling and a good pace. Beat a good field at Aintree and was going as well as Gold Present when coming down four out last time. Untested at the trip but attractively weighted and will have the race run to suit.

Form: 0354-1U

Bigbadjohn²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 139| CD

20/1

Four time winner including in a Grade 2 novice chase here in February. Struggled in four starts since and more needed if he's to register a victory today

Form: S1P-U70

Walk In The Mill²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 139| CD

9/1

Appreciated the step up to 3m when scoring over C&D last time. Was better handicapped then but now finds himself up to a mark and into a grade where he has struggled in the past.

Form: 1197-51

Clondaw Cian^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 136| D

16/1

Has only had three runs in novice company over fences and the best of these efforts came here in a good sized field. His hurdling form gives him a chance from this mark if able to mix it with more seasoned campaigners.

Form: 850-322

Fortunate George^v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: J J Burke| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133| C

8/1

Has taken time to gain confidence over fences but clearly that is no longer an issue following last month's romp. The visor was said to have helped as well as the small field. This looks a more demanding test and a follow-up is far from certain.

Form: 15-5351

Icing On The Cake²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 128| D

20/1

Has something to find from out of the weights and trip is a journey into unknown territory. Better options are to be found elsewhere.

Form: 41U43-5

Forecasts

Singlefarmpayment (5/1), Frodon (8/1), Fortunate George (8/1), On Tour (8/1), Gold Present (17/2), Walk In The Mill (9/1), Regal Encore (9/1), O O Seven (11/1), Go Conquer (11/1), Yala Enki (12/1), Clondaw Cian (16/1), Bigbadjohn (20/1), Icing On The Cake (20/1), Ptit Zig (25/1)

Go Conquer is on a crest of the wave at present and looks an entirely different horse this season. He may remain ahead of the handicapper but he is one of a few prominent racers in this who may set the race up nicely for SINGLEFARMPAYMENT . The seven-year-old would probably have gone close in the "Ladbrokes" three weeks ago but for coming down when mounting his challenge. He has shown a liking for this course and compensation may await. Nicky Henderson's pair, O O Seven and Gold Present, are likely to find their weight on this ground too much, but conditions look right for Yala Enki and On Tour.