15:00 Ascot

Saturday 22 December 2018

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

Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 3.56s

The Last Samuri²⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 157| DWS

15/2

2016 Grand National runner-up hasn't won since but run plenty of good races over Aintree fences and in cross country style races since. Come up short in high class races over conventional fences however and no easy task here off top-weight.

Form: 0/2243P-

Otago Trail²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 154| D

7/1

Dual winner in 2016/17 including getting the very notable scalp of Bristol De Mai (reversed placings afterwards). Recent return from a 665 day absence saw him finish an excellent third at Newcastle. Genuine claims here now.

Form: 31P21/3

Gold Present²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| CD

6/1

Winner of this race last year but pulled up afterwards at Cheltenham and in Scottish National. Outpaced but battled on for third behind exceptional Politologue on return her over 2m5f which looked an ideal prep so big chance to repeat the win.

Form: F/11PP-3

Benatar²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 149| C| D

8/1

High class novice last year winning three times including Grade Two here and third behind top class duo in Festival Grade One next to end the campaign. Too keen in both starts this season and 6L behind Gold Present here latest. First try at 3m.

Form: 1113-44

Thomas Patrick²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 148| BF| D

11/2

Won three times last season including at Grand National meeting to end the campaign. Favourite for Ladbrokes trophy (former Hennessy) latest after an encouraging return but pulled up. Sure that wasn't true running so highly respected here.

Form: 1411-2P

Valtor⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148

33/1

Won six of 50 starts in France although not since 2016. Grade Three winner the same year but appears a few lbs sort of that now and not obvious sort on his UK debut with Daryl Jacob preferring Full Glass.

Form: 3332-67

Flying Angel^v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146

16/1

Smart novice in 2016/17 season but without a win in eight races since. Second here two races back hinted at promise but tailed off next in Ladbrokes Trophy. Sure he can go well off this mark but others more persuasive overall.

Form: 380-628

Full Glass²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 142

9/1

Won three hurdles and one chase for Guillaume Macaire in France and made an encouraging UK debut when third at Ayr last term. Fell when still in contention four out on return and remains a very unexposed sort worth serious consideration here.

Form: P1F33-U

Jammin Masters⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 136| D

7/1

Lightly raced dual hurdles winner has finished second in all three chases to date. Second on return at Carlisle and form franked when winner followed up at Cheltenham. 3lb higher but rates a leading candidate here.

Form: 25110-2

Minella Daddy^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 136| BF| CD

12/1

C&D second in a valuable handicap here last February (1lb higher) and ended season with another good second at Kempton (same mark). Well below par on return here but first time out run last term similar and was second next so respected.

Form: 420P-27

Favorito Buck's^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| CD

7/1

Second-season chaser gained third win over fences when posting a career best here over C&D last month. Upped 6lb for that win and marked rise in class here but given age and profile he looks highly likely to be one who can improve further.

Form: 181-441

Solighoster²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 133| D

50/1

Struggle since second chase win last season with two falls and two tailed-off runs since. Hard to fancy him now in this ultra-competitive line-up.

Form: P15F-8F

Forecasts

Thomas Patrick (11/2), Gold Present (6/1), Jammin Masters (7/1), Favorito Buck's (7/1), Otago Trail (7/1), The Last Samuri (15/2), Benatar (8/1), Full Glass (9/1), Minella Daddy (12/1), Flying Angel (16/1), Valtor (33/1), Solighoster (50/1)

THOMAS PATRICK proved disappointing as favourite in the Ladbrokes Trophy but his earlier form is rock solid so he is given a chance to redeem himself and crucially the ground here is no issue. Last year's winner Gold Present made an encouraging return here behind Politologue over an inadequate 2m5f but Nicky Henderson's charge prefers a sounder surface so that is the doubt here. Jammin Masters has twice won on heavy ground over hurdles and after his encouraging return on a sounder surface he could be even better now with testing conditions.