Can Silver claim the Newbury riches?
Silver Forever can carry on making up for lost time with a second win over fences in the Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Mares’ Chase at Newbury tomorrow.
After 670 days off the track, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old brushed aside her solitary rival Imperial Alcazar by six lengths at Newbury six weeks ago, to get off the mark over fences at the first attempt.
That performance showed Silver Forever was over a pelvic injury that had kept her off the racecourse since January of last year. She already has a fine record under rules with six wins from nine starts – and enjoyed a 10-length victory over Annie Mc in a point-topoint before that.
With Nicholls already naming the mares’ chase at Cheltenham as a long-term objective, this looks the perfect second step.
Nicholls can also strike with One Journey in the BetVictor Loyalty Club Juvenile Hurdle. The Mastercraftsman filly makes her debut following her move from Roger Charlton’s stable.
It may just be a coincidence that she is doing so at Newbury, but both her wins from five Flat starts came at this venue – on her debut in October 2020 and on her latest outing this October.
She obviously likes the track and is certain to have been well-schooled for her jumping bow.
Sholokjack is of clear interest in the WM Installations Maiden Hurdle at Leicester.
The son of Sholokhov won his only start in the Irish point-to-point field in December of last year before changing hands for £75,000 a few days later. He makes his debut for Dan Skelton in this two-mile contest and must have every chance of making a successful start to his career under Rules.
Pablo Del Pueblo may have shocked punters when causing a 40-1 upset at Lingfield last month, but there are sure to be many converts as Simon Dow’s charge returns to the Surrey venue for the Read Katie Walsh On Betway Insider Handicap.
The victory looked no fluke as the three-year-old gelding swerved sharply at the start yet made the up ground without much fuss and stormed clear in the final furlong to win by three and three-quarter lengths.
The handicapper has had his say, putting Pablo Del Pueblo up 10lb. The gelding can overcome that as more improvement is likely given he had been off the track for 233 days before his victory over this six furlongs.
Marion’s Boy looks set to complete a hat-trick over Lingfield’s 10 furlongs in the Betway Handicap. The fouryear-old gelding, trained by Roger Teal, has been a smooth winner on his last two starts and must be followed while in this rich vein of form.