'Magnificent' festival star Coole Cody back for more at favourite track

Wednesday: 2.05 Cheltenham
Ceres Estates Charity Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

This midweek treat is rarely visited by less exposed sorts, who are spoiled for choice at this time of year. As a result it can be one of the easiest races in the calendar to win among those worth about £40,000 or more to the winner.

Nothing is within 6lb of the race's floor this year on ratings, which very much suggests the improvers have stayed away. What we have instead are a couple of old favourites, over this course and distance in particular, at the top of the weights.

Simply The Betts and Coole Cody are two of the last three winners of the Plate at the festival. The former is at least fresh after another failed attempt over staying trips in January's Cotswold Chase and on a similar mark to when he chased home Vienna Court in a course-and-distance Grade 3 on New Year's Day. The latter is on a career-high mark, by 5lb at the age of 11, after his win last month.

Both are bound to be popular given their course records, but remember that they are both prominent racers and tactics are so often vital in the big-field events here. Against fewer rivals, as in this race, it becomes easier to see the target on their backs.

The closest this field has to a usurper is the second-season novice Stolen Silver. He has lots of interesting form this season, from a neck second to Editeur Du Gite over 2m here in November to a fourth-placed finish behind Coole Cody in the Plate. He would be the rightful favourite on form.

Admittedly, you could not rule out any of the eight runners. Even Amoola Gold, a dubious stayer over this far, is at least handicapped to go well.

Espoir De Guye and Torpillo have returned from elongated breaks in good order, while Manofthemountain has seemingly been aimed at this race again, having won convincingly off 5lb lower last year.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Simply The Betts
We didn't run him at the festival because he doesn't like soft ground, so this better ground should suit him nicely. He's run well at Cheltenham before, it's his favourite track and good ground is what he wants, so I'm hopeful of a good run.

Evan Williams, trainer of Coole Cody
I should have said after his festival heroics that's it for the season, but he looks magnificent and is in great order. Fingers crossed he'll go and run a good race again. He's off a very high mark now and had a hard race at the festival, but we'll go from there.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Espoir De Guye
I hope some rain comes, it was a bit quick for him at Kempton last time. He didn't have a good experience at Cheltenham on his last trip, he got kicked at the start and missed the break, so hopefully he'll have a better one this time.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Amoola Gold
They've had a bit of rain which will be helpful, two and a half is more like his trip. He's never really run well at Cheltenham, but that's been over two miles so we'll give him a go.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Stolen Silver
He has some nice form around Cheltenham, it's a competitive race but if he put in his festival run he'd be going there with a good chance. He's probably a horse who's a bit better fresh, so we're going on trust a little bit.
Reporting by Owen Goulding

Tuesday's race previews:

3.35 Newmarket: 'This is no normal Craven' - 2,000 Guineas favourite Native Trail set to dazzle

Craven analysis: 'Champion juveniles don't always evolve into champion three-year-olds' (Members' Club)

2.25 Newmarket: Expert pedigree analysis as unraced three-year-olds go on show in Wood Ditton

3.00 Newmarket: 'One of the best of his generation' - Palmer talks up Group 1 star Ebro River

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