Last year at Cheltenham one of my biggest fancies of the week was Tommy Silver in the Martin Pipe Hurdle. After watching him win at Taunton the month before I was convinced that the step up from 2 miles would suit him, but it wasn’t to be. His stamina didn’t hold out over the 21f trip and he finished in midfield, well behind the winner Champagne Classic.
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| Tommy Silver is a very interesting contender in The Grand Annual. |
He made amends in no uncertain terms when dropped back to 16f on his next start at Plumpton (gd/fm), hosing up by 9L in a class 2 handicap off a mark of 137 under regular rider Stan Sheppard. The slight ease in the ground was against him on his final start last season at Ayr, but he still ran a very creditable race to finish 6th of 16, just over 4L behind the winner Chesterfield off a mark of 142.
The 6yo son of Silver Cross was sent chasing on his return to action this season, and he has taken well to the discipline. He was beaten just a neck on his chasing debut by Optimus Prime on good to soft ground at Worcester over 2 miles and his conqueror has gone on to win both his subsequent starts. Tommy Silver broke his maiden over fences returned to quick ground at Leicester (17f) on his next start, beating Cultivator by 3.5L.
Tommy Silver had two runs in December and he ran a cracker on the first of those when chasing home Testify on soft ground at Bangor. Considering underfoot conditions were against him it was a super effort to be beaten just over a length when conceding 2lb. Testify has won twice since and is now rated 145. Tommy Silver’s last run saw him finish 3rd behind Cyarname at Kempton in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad, beaten 7L on soft ground.
He was only half a length behind the 148 rated Shantou Rock that day, and that horse illustrated the strength of the form by getting to within 2L of Sceau Royal next time out at Doncaster, a 159 rated chaser who is amongst the market leaders for the Arkle Chase. Shantou Rock was getting 5lb from the winner, but it was still a super run and a big boost to Tommy Silver’s form.
So on that evidence, off a mark of 144 I think Tommy Silver is more than reasonably treated and he has been freshened up ahead of what will be his handicap debut over the larger obstacles. A furiously run 2 miles is what this lad wants, and this race should be run exactly to suit. He won on his return from a similar break last season so clearly he goes well fresh, and with non-runner no bet available he is worth backing each way at 25/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION GRAND ANNUAL: TOMMY SILVER E/W 25/1 NRNB
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