Silver the star as Williams looks to build on best ever prize-money haul

Since taking the bold decision to concentrate on quality over quantity, Evan Williams has proved a rising force in the training ranks and last season bagged his biggest prize-money total, reaching over £822,000, in a career stretching back 18 years.

Last season Williams lost a major ally when stable jockey Paul Moloney decided to hang up his riding boots, but the trainer promoted long-time second choice Adam Wedge into the top slot.

Every yard needs a flagbearer and Silver Streak, who finished third to the ill-fated Espoir D’Allen in the Champion Hurdle in March, has fitted neatly into that bracket and the aptly named grey has already got off the mark for this season, winning comfortably in a well-contested conditions hurdle at Kempton this month.