Chepstow Jump Season Opener: Sky Sports Racing’s Mike Cattermole provides his knowledgeable verdict on the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle

Mike Cattermole places Chepstow’s characteristic contest, the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle stay on Sky Sports Racing, underneath the microscope.

The two-day Jumps Season Opener at Chepstow, all stay on Sky Sports Racing, is a step in the appropriate path for correct winter leaping followers.

The fixture is now extensively considered the primary style of top-class National Hunt motion within the new season and the Wadsdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (4.02) on Saturday is probably the most helpful race over the 2 days. Indeed, the £75,000 characteristic, first run in 1988, is the primary massive handicap hurdle of the marketing campaign.

In spite of some showers on Friday, the race is ready to be run on good floor. The distance of simply in need of two and a half miles implies that it attracts horses stepping up in journey and established stayers who could also be dropping again.

With the likes of West To The Bridge, Bourbali and Zabeel Champion all liking to go ahead, the race seems to be positive to be actually run.

Proschema

Jockey: Harry Skelton; Trainer: Dan Skelton

One of two for the already in-form Dan Skelton and the selection of steady jockey Harry, with Lorcan Williams on stablemate West To The Bridge. The yard has gained this twice previously eight years.

Proschema took half in final yr’s contest and fared fairly nicely in fifth place off a mark of 142, 3lb decrease than this yr’s ranking. Like final yr, he traces up right here after a break – this time after failing to remain the marathon journey of the Ascot Stakes on the Flat in June.

After final yr’s run right here, he was campaigned over three miles in his three subsequent hurdles begins and carried out nicely, suggesting {that a} larger stamina check over hurdles appears to go well with him these days.

Usually quietly ridden, he’ll benefit from the sound floor and will be anticipated to be staying on nicely on the demise.

Knappers Hill

Harry Cobden; Paul Nicholls

Boasted some very sensible bumper kind however it’s truthful to say that he took some time to get the dangle of leaping hurdles. Indeed, when he landed the chances right here on his hurdling debut at this assembly a yr in the past, he was removed from foot good.

He then went on to indicate fairly helpful kind with one other success at Wincanton, a stable third to Jonbon at Ascot earlier than a good sixth within the Betfair Hurdle.

His one attempt at round this journey got here within the EBF Final at Sandown however the smooth floor there did not go well with him in any respect and he bounced again to finish the season on a excessive at Newton Abbot earlier than a fluent success again at Sandown, each of these on good floor and over two miles.

Now 7lb larger, he tries over additional once more and you observed there will likely be extra to come back, however he’ll want it. The champion coach has been quiet of late however that’s about to vary.

West To The Bridge

Lorcan Williams; Dan Skelton

A front-runner who boasts a load of expertise and who loved a fruitful marketing campaign final time period when notching up 4 wins, all on smooth floor, together with over this course and distance final January.

There is little doubt that rain would assist his trigger and he’s up in opposition to some extra unexposed varieties right here. The oldest runner within the discipline and the stats are in opposition to him as no 9-y-o has ever gained this race.

Masters Legacy

Micheal Nolan; Philip Hobbs

Worth a re-assessment as Philip Hobbs has gained this occasion 4 occasions previously.

A winner at this assembly final yr over two miles on good floor, off a mark of 132, he’s now again to that similar mark after ending final season with two very disappointing runs.

The incontrovertible fact that he has undergone a wind operation since then gives a clue as to why he did not carry out. If that works, he might nicely be a participant from a yard simply beginning to hit its stride.

Didtheyleaveuoutto

Niall Houlihan; Nick Gifford

Has been campaigned lately on the Flat, largely over two miles, and performing with credit score so that ought to set him up properly for an try at going one higher than a yr in the past when he stayed on powerfully on the run-in to grab second behind Orbys Legend.

He is 2lb larger now however the sound floor will go well with him and he will likely be ridden with the standard restraint earlier than launching his assault late. But given how nicely he carried out over three miles subsequently at Haydock, it could be that this three-parts brother to the mighty Denman will once more discover the ending publish coming simply too quickly.

And the age stats are additionally in opposition to him.

Broomfield Burg

Jonjo O’Neill Jr; Nicky Henderson

Still tends to take a grip in his races and after racing too freely on his hurdling debut, realized sufficient to win at Southwell and Warwick earlier than taking over deeper waters and performing with credit score, wanting particularly good when romping dwelling at Kempton on Boxing Day.

As a outcome, he began favorite for the Betfair Hurdle however once more was too eager and light into seventh place, a size and 1 / 4 behind sixth Knappers Hill with whom he’s now 10lb higher off. He additionally has a 4lb pull for slightly below 4 lengths with the fourth, Lord Baddesley.

After a average run within the County Hurdle, he stepped as much as round two and a half miles for his final two begins and wasn’t disgraced at Aintree and Market Rasen (the place he wore a hood, eliminated right here). But he wants to seek out extra and the hope is that the wind operation he has had since his final run will assist him.

Unusually, that is one race that Nicky Henderson has but to win.

Bourbali

Brendan Powell; Joe Tizzard

A gradual improver final season each on smooth and good floor and notched up a hat-trick within the spring in handicaps at Sandown and Plumpton (twice). An increase of 3lb seems to be affordable.

An uncomplicated sort who enjoys making the operating, and tries onerous, he additionally has a course and distance win to his title (final October). Has to be revered.

Unanswered Prayers

Freddie Gordon; Chris Gordon

One of two Chris Gordon-trained challengers, with the coach’s son Freddie taking off 7lb. Ended final season with a battling second to Bourbali at Plumpton in April, rallying after hitting a flat spot on the underside flip, and is now 3lb higher for a size and three quarters.

Stays the journey nicely however fascinating that Tom Cannon prefers Lord Baddesley.

Lord Baddesley

Tom Cannon; Chris Gordon

Was travelling very strongly in contact behind Bourbali when tipping up on the fourth final at Plumpton when final seen in April (making an attempt round this journey for the primary time) and is now a useful 10lb higher off.

Put up among the best performances of his profession when fourth within the Betfair Hurdle over two miles, forward of each Knappers Hill in sixth and Broomfield Burg in seventh and is 6lb higher off with the Nicholls challenger however 4lb worse with the Henderson runner. Made eye-catching late headway there, suggesting {that a} step up in journey would go well with him.

An intriguing contender who ought to settle nicely off the sturdy tempo and may very well be the one to beat.

Zabeel Champion

Richie McLernon; Jonjo O’Neill

A really helpful middle-distance performer on the flat for Mark Johnston and having gained two of his 4 hurdles begins for Jonjo O’Neill (gained this race twice earlier than, together with with Don’t Push It), is probably nicely handled over hurdles, given his apparent expertise.

Up 4lb for a Haydock win in April, his two begins since on the Flat have been underwhelming and this front-runner has to show that he stays this journey.

Mike Cattermole’s Silver Trophy verdict:

A race that intrigues the extra you have a look at it! With a robust tempo assured, issues would possibly nicely pan out for Lord Baddesley who has bits of kind that make him an interesting contender for his very a lot in-form yard.

His previous rival Bourbali is real and likeable and will nicely have extra to supply, whereas the likes of Knappers Hill must squeeze out a bit extra, though that’s on no account out of the query. Masters Legacy is just not comfortably dismissed after his wind operation.

Watch the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle from Chepstow stay on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 535) on Saturday October 9 at 4.02pm.