15:00 Ascot

Saturday 23 December 2023

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

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

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 9.46s

Victtorino⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142| CD

4/1

Useful chaser in France, scoring twice at up to 21.9f last year, who resumed winning ways for his new yard in 11-runner handicap over C&D (good to soft) 49 days ago. Can make his presence felt again.

Form: 12574-1

Blackjack Magic^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 138| D

7/2

Took very well to chasing for current yard last term and he continued his progress on his return in 11-runner handicap at Wincanton (25.1f, soft) 42 days ago. That form has been franked so he has to be taken seriously.

Form: 4/21P1-1

Flegmatik^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

14/1

Winless since early 2022 but he arrives in good nick, second of 8 in handicap chase here (21f, good to soft) 29 days ago. Needs considering once more.

Form: 0926-U2

Switch Hitter²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

18/1

Signed off last season with success at Wincanton and returned from 9 months off with a creditable third over C&D (good to soft) 29 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 322/71-3

Flash Collonges^p,t²⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134

18/1

Got off the mark in this sphere at Newbury (23f) in March and still in touch when falling 19th in Scottish Grand National at Ayr following month. Can't be dismissed on his return.

Form: 2/2231F-

Larry^p,t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 133| CD

16/1

C&D winner who shaped as if needing the run after 7 months off when fourth of 6 in handicap at Sandown (24.2f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Can give a good account with that run under his belt.

Form: 16723-4

Git Maker³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 133| D

9/2

Point winner who resumed from 10 months off to make it 3-5 in this sphere in 5-runner Lingfield handicap (23.5f) last month. 5 lb higher mark to overcome but still not taken lightly.

Form: 1/2211-1

Make Me A Believer^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 131| D

16/1

Useful hurdles winner who capitalised on a reduced mark after a wind op in 12-runner handicap chase at Exeter (24.2f, soft) 43 days ago. Up 7 lb but he's open to further progress. In the mix.

Form: 13/664-1

Yeah Man⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 130| D

5/1

Irish raider who scored over hurdles at Thurles in February. In excellent form over fences this term too, looking sure to go close when fell last over C&D last month. Player nudged up 2 lb.

Form: 2210-2F

Hascoeur Clermont³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 126| D

10/1

Arrives firmly on the up over fences, following up his success at Galway with stylish victory in 16-runner handicap at Cheltenham (25f, soft) 35 days ago. Up another 9 lb but well in the mix.

Form: 893U11

Non-Runners

Bangers And Cash³⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: B Pauling J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Blackjack Magic (7/2), Victtorino (4/1), Git Maker (9/2), Yeah Man (5/1), Hascoeur Clermont (10/1), Flegmatik (14/1), Make Me A Believer (16/1), Larry (16/1), Switch Hitter (18/1), Flash Collonges (18/1), Bangers And Cash (33/1)

Plenty with chances but there was a lot to like about the reappearance Wincanton success of BLACKJACK MAGIC so Anthony Honeyball's upwardly-mobile chaser is taken to emerge on top of the pack. Gavin Cromwell's Yeah Man is feared most having looked sure to go close when coming down at the final fence over C&D last time. Victtorino, who emerged on top that day, must also enter calculations. Git Maker, Make Me A Believer and Hascoeur Clermont also need factoring into this cracking handicap.