15:00 Ascot

Saturday 20 December 2025

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

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

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 8.27s

Ga Law^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 154

28/1

Bright start to last season, finishing second at Chepstow and in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, a race he won in 2022. However, spent a significant portion of 2024/25 campaign out of form and his reappearance this time round in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby was rather low-key.

Form: 95PP3-3

Threeunderthrufive^t,p⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

18/1

Smart chaser on his day and shaped well when third to Victtorino in this race off a 5 lb higher mark on reappearance last season. On the downside, he was pulled up final 2 starts of last term and first run of present campaign in the Badger Beers at Wincanton wasn't overly encouraging either.

Form: 0/32PP-4

Henry's Friend^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 146| CD

18/1

Proved better than ever when landing a big pot on return over C&D last month, making it 2-2 at Ascot in the process. Jumped tentatively when down the field in another major handicap at Cheltenham recently, but fact that he's turning out again just 8 days later would suggest that all is well.

Form: 5188-18

Victtorino²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 146| CD

5/1

Largely progressive chaser who enhanced excellent record here when landing this race for the second successive season 12 months ago. Collected another valuable C&D prize in February and his yard is now in much better form compared to when he failed to fire on return at Newbury. Solid claims.

Form: 311P7-0

Leave Of Absence³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 145| BF| C

11/1

Hasn't stood much racing but there's plenty of ability there, as he again proved when seeing off 6 rivals on return at Cheltenham. The testing conditions that counted against him at the same course next time are unlikely to be present here, but needs to raise his game a notch in any case.

Form: 1/221-1P

Two For Gold^p⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 145| CD

40/1

Plenty of smart handicap form to his name, including several solid efforts round here in the past. Clearly retains ability aged 12 judged on his reappearance sixth in the C&D race won by Henry's Friend last month, but not enough to suggest that he'll be equal to this task.

Form: 26/4P2-6

Johnnywho^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 145| D

6/1

Reached a smart level over fences as a novice, most notably going close in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March. Didn't quite have the stamina for the Irish National the following month, but shaped well (this time over an inadequate trip) on return at Aintree and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 33325-5

Hyland²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

10/1

Enjoyed a fine campaign over fences last term, winning 3 times before runner-up in the Kauto Star and Ladbrokes Trophy (both at Kempton). By no means disgraced in a couple of major handicaps since returning to action in October and one suspects that he'll be closer to concert pitch now.

Form: 122P-97

Blow Your Wad^t,p⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T Lacey| OR: 142| BF

7/1

Winning hurdler who improved over fences in 2023/24, winning the Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton. Underwent a second wind op following a truncated campaign last term and resumed with a solid third to Henry's Friend over C&D last month. Cheekpieces replace the first-time visor he sported that day.

Form: 615/55-3

Deep Cave³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 139| D

10/1

Did well over hurdles for this yard last term, ending the campaign with a big win at Aintree in April. Upped his game again when making a winning chase debut on these shores (chase winner in France) on return at Bangor (3m, heavy) and a 4 lb rise is far from prohibitive.

Form: 55461-1

Pic Roc^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 135| C| D

3/1

Deservedly opened chase account at Huntingdon (23.5f, good) last month and subsequently did well to finish as close as he did in a major Newbury handicap, having been one of those to fluff his lines in the standing start. Current mark is a good judged on that evidence and he's a key player.

Form: 0P6-U15

Transmission^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 130

17/2

Took well to fences last term, successful at Cheltenham last November and also a good fifth in National Hunt Chase at the Festival there in March. That spark has been missing so far this season, but it's far too soon to write this 8-y-o off and the booking of Sean Bowen is a plus.

Form: 1265-08

Forecasts

Pic Roc (3/1), Victtorino (5/1), Johnnywho (6/1), Blow Your Wad (7/1), Transmission (17/2), Deep Cave (10/1), Hyland (10/1), Leave Of Absence (11/1), Henry's Friend (18/1), Threeunderthrufive (18/1), Ga Law (28/1), Two For Gold (40/1)

Given the mitigating circumstances PIC ROC did extremely well to get as close as he did when fifth in what is traditionally one of the most competitive handicap chases of the season at Newbury three weeks ago. On that evidence, he surely has a pot such as this in him off his present mark. There won't be much margin for error, though, with Johnnywho greatly respected back at his optimum trip, while Victtorino, who has won the last two renewals of this, and Henry's Friend are also feared.