14:05 Cheltenham

Wednesday 14 April 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Ballymore Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 9.03s

Magic Saint^t⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 157| C

14/1

Proved better than ever when putting up a high-class effort to win a handicap here (2m) in November. Rider lost irons at Aintree on Friday but probably better over a shorter trip.

Form: 61445P

Pym^p1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 151| C| D

12/1

Made a good start to chase career last term and back on track to land a listed race at Sandown on return. Has added to patchy record since, though, and headgear now given a whirl.

Form: 1PP-150

The Big Bite³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 150| D

5/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who is progressive over fences, winning on 2m Aintree return before good placed efforts at Doncaster and Newbury, though rather threw it away at latter track. Considered.

Form: 412-123

Romain De Senam^t⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 148| D

15/2

Three-time winner at around 2½m for Paul Nicholls in 2019 and it all clicked for new stable with Musselburgh win on New Year's Day. Good fourth of 17 at Kempton since and drop back in trip a plus.

Form: 864B14

Coole Cody²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 143| CD

10/3

Big improver over fences for new yard this term, landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup here and running a fine race to finish fourth in the Plate at The Festival last month. Obvious claims off same mark.

Form: 221634

Up The Straight³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 139| D

4/1

Useful hurdler and just as good over fences this season despite mixed record, good second at Sandown latest but faltered up the run-in when set to win. Better ground here may help.

Form: 32U252

Two Taffs²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137| D

33/1

Useful chaser for Dan Skelton and respectable start for new yard (well backed) when fourth at Leicester on return. Struggled in the Paddy Power Plate at the Festival next time, however.

Form: 3020-40

Manofthemountain²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 137

8/1

Winner of his first 4 completed starts over fences. Disappointed next 2 starts but back to form when second at Kempton last month. More needed here, though.

Form: U1-14P2

Benatar¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 134| D

6/1

Useful chaser who shaped encouragingly after long absence when third in Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over C&D. Struggled next 2 starts but back-to-form at Warwick 2 weeks ago. 3 lb out of weights.

Form: 37/3P82

Forecasts

Coole Cody (10/3), Up The Straight (4/1), The Big Bite (5/1), Benatar (6/1), Romain De Senam (15/2), Manofthemountain (8/1), Pym (12/1), Magic Saint (14/1), Two Taffs (33/1)

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner COOLE CODY enhanced his excellent record here when fourth in the Plate at the Festival last month and should make another bold bid off the same mark back in calmer waters. Conditions will suit the in-form Romain de Senam and he rates the main threat ahead of The Big Bite, who was set to win at Newbury before hanging badly left up the run-in.