Western Daily Press (Saturday)
In-form Thomas yard can strike once more
STOLEN Silver can provide Sam Thomas with a third big-race win in as many weeks in the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
The leading jockey turned trainer was quoted as saying he felt his horses may need their first runs of the season late last month, but there has been little evidence of a lack of sharpness.
A fortnight ago Our Power and Before Midnight finished first and third in the London Gold Cup at Ascot, while Good Risk All Impressed over hurdles at Carlisle the following day.
Having since been involved in a helicopter accident, Thomas has been recovering at home, but will doubtless have been heartened to see Al Dancer claim a thrilling victory over the Grand National fences in last week’s Grand Sefton at Aintree.
Stolen Silver remains fairly unexposed over fences after just nine attempts and particularly over the Paddy Power Gold Cup trip of two and a half miles.
He has also proven he copes with the undulations of Cheltenham, with six course starts yielding one runaway victory on his most recent appearance in April’s Silver Trophy, two runnerup finishes and a fourth placed finish at the Festival in March.
The seven-year-old has to contend with a 7lb hike in the weights, but with the yard in such good form and track and ground to suit, he is expected to be in the thick of the action.
Scriptwriter is taken to give trainer Milton Harris back-toback victories in the opening Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.
The Wiltshire handler sent out the tough-as-teak Knight Salute to claim this Grade Two prize 12 months ago and in Scriptwriter he appears to have found another potential gem.
Having earned a three-figure rating after four Flat starts for Aidan O’Brien, the son of Churchill changed hands for 62,000 guineas and made a successful hurdling debut at Sedgefield four weeks ago.
He clearly has more on his plate in the Cotswolds, but he certainly merits his place.
Cheltenham Festival winner Banbridge gets the vote in the other Grade Two on the card, the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial. Joseph O’Brien’s Irish challenge charged up the hill to land the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle in the spring.