ITV Racing Tips: Can Present Man land a Silver Trophy hat-trick?
Published:
All eyes will be on Present Man and Bryony Frost on Saturday afternoon as the duo attempt to win the Badger Beers Silver Trophy at Wincanton for a record third time live on ITV.
The pair combined to win the 3m 1f Listed contest in both 2017 and 2018, but do they have what it takes to defy top-weight and see off the likes of Danny Whizzbang and Just A Sting this time around?
It’s our feature race on an afternoon which also includes the Wentworth Stakes, the Elite Hurdle and a red-hot renewal of the November Handicap. We’re all set, and we’ve previewed the best of the televised action in our ITV Racing Tips.
15:35 Wincanton – Badger Beers Silver Trophy (Listed)
Horses for courses; that’s the old saying, and old-stager Present Man certainly has a liking for Wincanton. The 10-year-old has form figures of 1226421UR11PU around the Somerset-track, and that suggests he’s not to be taken lightly under top-weight here.
The effervescent Bryony Frost has formed one of her trademark partnerships with the Presenting gelding since taking on the ride in 2017, and the pair haven’t looked back. Doubters will point to the fact he was pulled up in last season’s renewal, but that fails to take into account the fact the ground was too soft underfoot.
This year the going is good and following an impressive win on reappearance at Chepstow last month, it looks as though Paul Nicholls’s horse should take all the beating here. Stablemate Danny Whizzbang is the main danger pitched into handicap company for the first time off the back of two disappointing runs at the back end of last season.
Prior to that he opened his chasing account with a Grade 2 win in the John Francombe, and off a handy mark, he gives the trainer another excellent chance of making it four on the bounce in this race. Potterman, who won at Market Rasen in August and Sizing At Midnight for Colin Tizzard are two interesting alternatives.
15:00 Wincanton – Elite Hurdle (Grade 2)
Sceau Royal has been more accustomed to running over fences across the last few seasons, but he still retains plenty of ability over the smaller obstacles, as his run in the Welsh Champion Hurdle showed three weeks ago.
Alan King’s inmate ran away with the race at Ffos Las in mid-October in his first run in this sphere since February 2019, and he looks well-placed to follow up here in a race he won as a four-year-old back in 2016.
Wind surgery has clearly helped the Doctor Dino gelding, who should also get his beloved good ground on Saturday too. Solo rates as the main danger for the Nicholls yard, with last season’s French import taken to improve on his disappointing display at Cheltenham having previously run away with the Adonis Hurdle on his UK debut.
If he can show anything like that kind of form around Wincanton, then he’ll be difficult to reel in. Master Debonair and Diego Du Charmil are the others to keep an eye on.
15:15 Doncaster – November Handicap
Euchen Glen has enjoyed a fantastic season under the guidance of trainer Jim Goldie, and things could be about to get even better for the pair in the November Handicap.
The 2018 John Smith’s Cup winner finished fifth in the Ebor before taking the Old Borough Cup and landing a Group 3 double in the Cumberland Lodge and the Pravha Stakes last time out. He’s in the form of his life and should be able to put up another big challenge over his favoured 1m 4f distance.
Others to consider include mud-lover Sam Cooke who was second in a competitive Ascot Handicap in July, and Torcello who finished a good second behind a subsequent winner at Newbury a fortnight ago and warrants respect under the 5lb claim of Megan Nicholls.
ITV Racing Schedule, Saturday 7th November
13:30 Doncaster – Wentworth Stakes (Listed)
13:50 Wincanton – Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
14:05 Doncaster – Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
14:25 Wincanton – “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
14:40 Aintree – Best Odds Guaranteed Hurdle
15:00 Wincanton – Elite Hurdle (Grade 2)
15:15 Doncaster – November Handicap
15:35 Wincanton – Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap (Listed)
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
