15:00 Ascot

Saturday 18 December 2021

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

Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 8.95s

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Selected odds by:

Cloth Cap^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 150

7/1

Big improver last term and has shaped quite well on both outings this term, going off too hard in his bid to defend his Ladbrokes Trophy crown at Newbury last time. Definite player down in grade

Form:

Regal Encore^t³¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-8| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 146| CD

18/1

Not the easiest to catch right but has become well handicapped and he has won this race twice in the past. Long in the tooth now, but can't be completely dismissed.

Form:

Caribean Boy^p1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145

13/2

Smart chaser who ran respectably in form terms when mid-field in a Cheltenham handicap on reappearance. Good enough to compete off this mark and cheekpieces might add some more zip.

Form:

Step Back^p³⁷²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock| OR: 143| D

50/1

Looked as good as ever in late 2020, winning twice, and final outing at Cheltenham was a respectable sixth. Drop back in trip will help, although he's likely to need this first run for 12 months.

Form:

Phoenix Way^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 140| D

8/1

Fragile but talented sort who returned with a display of tentative jumping at Newbury on reappearance. Given a chance by the handicapper since, but hard to know if he'll show up on his game.

Form:

Grand Sancy²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138

8/1

Smart hurdler who has proved useful over fences and looked right back on his game when fourth in a Newbury handicap last time. Bold show likely if the race is run to suit.

Form:

Jerrysback⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| D

11/1

Has enjoyed success at this track in the past but it's drawn out flaws in his jumping on his last couple of visits, including over C&D 49 days ago. Not without a chance if he avoids errors.

Form:

Valtor^p¹⁹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 138| CD

40/1

Useful hurdler/chaser who ended his time for Nicky Henderson in good order, third at Perth 6 months ago. This is a tough assignment starting out for a new stable in a competitive event, though.

Form:

Storm Control^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 135| BF| DWS

12/1

Bold-jumping front-runner who scored twice at Cheltenham last season but needs to put a tame reappearance at that track behind him. Return to usual tactics should see him in a better light.

Form:

Belami Des Pictons³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| D

4/1

Well-in on old form and, while he's been lightly raced in recent seasons, there was plenty of encouragement to be gleaned from his fourth in a handicap at Bangor on reappearance. Makes the shortlist.

Form:

Annsam²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 134

7/1

Progressive over hurdles during 2019/20 and improved further over fences last term. Has returned in form over the smaller obstacles and could make an impact if his jumping holds up.

Form:

Checkitout¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| D

8/1

Improved with back-to-back 3m wins at Southwell and Ludlow in the spring. Placed both start this term but this looks a bit more competitive.

Form:

Dinons⁴⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Mark Campion| OR: 130| D

150/1

Useful winning chaser for Gordon Elliott who was well below form starting out over hurdles for current stable at Aintree 13 months ago. Plenty to prove.

Form:

Forecasts

Belami Des Pictons (4/1), Caribean Boy (13/2), Annsam (7/1), Cloth Cap (7/1), Phoenix Way (8/1), Checkitout (8/1), Grand Sancy (8/1), Jerrysback (11/1), Storm Control (12/1), Regal Encore (18/1), Valtor (40/1), Step Back (50/1), Dinons (150/1)

CLOTH CAP does most of his racing on left-handed tracks nowadays but he has run well here in the past and, down in grade, his bold-jumping style could have a number of these rivals in trouble early, so he's worth chancing to hold off the closers at the business end. Grand Sancy looked right back in form last time, so he's feared most, while Caribean Boy could benefit from first-time cheekpieces.