Five key questions: punting pointers for a red-hot Silver Cup

Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed)4yo+ | 3m | ITV4/RUK

Will Singlefarmpayment bounce back from Newbury mishap?

There are two strands of form on offer from the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury at the beginning of the month, with bookmakers currently siding with a non-finisher over one of the placed horses.

Singlefarmpayment was still travelling reasonably well in sixth place when coming down three out, having been sent off the 13-2 second favourite in one of the season's most hotly-contested handicaps.

"He has schooled nicely in the week and everything seems well with him, said trainer Tom George. "Hopefully that was just a blip and we can get back on track here."

The Anthony Honeyball-trained Regal Encore was an unconsidered 66-1 chance at Newbury but made light of those odds when finishing third behind Total Recall and Whisper, an effort for which he has not suffered at the hands of the handicapper.

Can Go Conquer beat a 9lb rise for his C&D win?

Go Conquer jumped his rivals into submission when winning over course and distance at Ascot in NovemberCredit: Getty Images

Go Conquer got no further than the first fence in this race 12 months ago but has been in unstoppable form this term, brushing aside As De Mee on his return to action at Fontwell, before running his rivals ragged in the Sodexho Gold Cup here last month.

That has cost Jonjo O'Neill's charge a 9lb rise but given how easy Aidan Coleman was on Go Conquer after the last, it would be a brave punter who discounts a similarly bold show.

"It’s a valuable prize and hopefully the ground won’t be too soft as it has been his target for a while now," said Jason Maguire, representing owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

"He had a couple of entries that we purposely didn’t take up in order to go here so we hope he runs well."

Which one of the Henderson duo is best suited by the trip?

Both O O Seven and Gold Present are in their second season chasing and both ran in novice events at the festival back in March.

O O Seven's only try at three miles was when finishing well behind stablemate Might Bite in the RSA Chase and the question is whether the unrelenting rhythm of the race was his undoing as much as the distance.

Gold Present carries 6lb less than O O Seven having gone close to winning the novice handicap chase at Cheltenham over 2m4f and has looked progressive when tackling an extra quarter of a mile at Newbury in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Trophy at the start of the month.

"The step up to three miles will suit them well," said trainer Nicky Henderson.

"They have been crying out for it really. Gold Present won well at Newbury over two mile six and O O Seven ran well over a little shorter."

Will Walk In The Mill cope with hotter company?

Robert Walford's team continue in fine form and Walk In The Mill returns to the scene of a straightforward success last month.

That was in a Class 3 race off a mark of 131 and Walford is taking a step into the unknown as far as whether the rise in class is within Walk In The Mill's compass.

"He is very well but he will need to step up massively as this is a proper race," he said. "I don’t know if he is good enough and we’ll know what we’ve got after this."

Will 3 miles be the making of 'hard as nails' George?

A winner on the same Ascot card as Walk In The Mill, Fortunate George appeared not to be stopping over 2m5f.

Intermediate trips had perhaps looked the key to the Emma Lavelle-trained son of Oscar but that performance has convinced her that the Fortunate George may see out the trip better than he appeared to over hurdles.

"He showed he liked Ascot winning last time and the way he did it you have to say he's earned the right to come into a race like this," Lavelle said. "He's hard as nails and whereas before I thought I was stretching him over three miles, the way he stayed on last time makes me think it will be fine."

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