Horsbetting.com experts give their 2018 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle betting tips. Theclockisticking looks well-treated and the one to be on in the feature Grade 3 contest run over an extended 2m 3f at Chepstow on Saturday, 13 October. River Frost hails from the in-form yard of Alan King and rates the main danger. Court Minstrel, meanwhile, is a dual winner of the race and has plummeted in the weights, so appeals each-way Read our in-depth 2018 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle betting tips preview for more details on these horses’ chances.Theclockisticking has a super chance in Silver TrophyTheclockisticking shaped with stacks of promise when runner-up on seasonal reappearance, so looks worth a bet to go one better and land the spoils in the feature race on a cracking card at Chepstow on Saturday, the extended 2m 3f Grade 3 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (16:45). This Stuart Edmunds trained six-year-old had some smart form to his name last year and looks potentially ahead of his mark.
After finishing a solid second in a decent bumper at Market Rasen, he made a smooth transition to hurdles when easily landing back-to-back contests at Fakenham and Huntingdon. Connections then pitched the son of Gamut into Grade 2 company and he ran a cracker to finish a 3 1/4 lengths third of six to the very smart and now 151-rated Claimantakinforgan in the Kennel Gate at Ascot.
Theclockisticking also ran well at Cheltenham when a two-length second of 14 to Diese Des Bieffes in what was a warm class 2 novice contest, before rounding off the campaign with a solid fourth of 12 to Cool Sky at Aintree where he got hampered at a crucial stage before keeping on at one pace to be beaten 11 3/4 lengths off a rating of 138.
Judged on the those performances he looked the type that would have more to offer in the 2018-19 season, and that view was confirmed when he chased home Caius Marcius in a competitive 12-runner Listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen last month. After racing at the rear, Theclockisticking stayed on strongly from two out to be nearest at the finish and beaten 11 lengths.
It was an eye-catching effort and he looks sure to come on a bundle for the outing. The assessor has also been kind in leaving his mark unchanged at 137. Judged on the pick of his form, especially his run behind Claimantakinforgan, that looks very exploitable. So, taking everything into account, Theclockisticking looks to hold outstanding claims and therefore had to be the main selection in our 2018 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle betting tips.River Frost feared mostTrainer Alan King has his team in fine form and saddles the JP McManus owned River Frost. This six-year-old has won three of his nine starts over hurdles and ran very well in this race 12 months ago when staying on well to finish a two-length fifth of 18 to Court Minstrel off a mark of 142.
The form of that race has worked out extremely well and thrown-up a host of subsequent winners. Sam Spinner has won twice since – including a Grade 1 at Ascot – to be rated 164. Wholestone, who was giving 3lb and finished half-a-length in front of River Frost in fourth, went on to land a Grade 2 at Cheltenham and finish third in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival there in March to to be rated 161.
River Frost got put up to 145 after that fine effort and subsequently failed to trouble the judge in two starts. However, he is now able to race in this off 143 – just 1lb higher than last year and the same as when a solid, keeping on 8 1/4 lengths ninth of 25 to Supasundae in the ultra-competitive Grade 3 Coral Cup at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival.
It makes him a big player at the weights, while other pluses are that he has gone well fresh in the past and has a 40 per cent strike rate on the forecast good ground. River Frost is also relatively lightly-raced and open to further improvement, so a bold bid looks on the cards and he thus rates the main danger to Theclockisticking.Dual winner Court Minstrel appeals each-wayThe aforementioned Court Minstrel captured this prize for a second time last year off a mark of 142, having previously triumphed in 2015. Given that the Evan Williams trained 11-year-old is now able to race off 11lb lower, and meets the fifth home River Frost on 12lb better terms, he is too well-treated to ignore and looks each-way value in a wide-open 18-runner contest where a case can be made for many.
In last year’s race, the veteran came from well off the pace to challenge at the last. He then showed stacks of desire to get up close home and score by a half-a-length. Court Minstrel went on to finish a decent third at Haydock two starts later off 149, after which his form then tailed off badly.
However, having been rated as high as 157 in the past, there is little doubt that he is more than capable of making his presence felt in this off his current rating of 131 at a venue where he is unbeaten. Underfoot conditions are also ideal and Court Minstrel has gone well for a claimer in the past and has another 7lb taken off his back, as Isabel Williams takes the ride.
So, despite his advancing years, it would be no surprise to see Court Minstrel give his younger rivals something to think about. At the odds on offer, he therefore features as the each-way punt in our 2018 Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle bettings tips.Your Next Bet
