Ffos Las Preview: Silvergrove can strike Gold

Silvergrove has a progressive profile since being sent over the larger obstacles and can make the most of the weight he receives from his rivals to land the 2m 5f novices’ handicap chase at Ffos Las today (4.00).

The Richard Woollacott trained gelding shaped with promise to be placed on his first two starts over fences before scoring in facile fashion at Exeter.

The seven-year-old resisted the testing conditions and after racing up with the pace came clear on the run-in to win easing down by four lengths off a mark of 104.

Silvergrove was then far from disgraced last time out off a revised rating of 111 when chasing home Monkerty Tunkerty in the class 3 Somerset National at Wincanton.

The 3m 4f trip seemed to stretch Silvergrove’s stamina to the limit and this afternoon’s 2m 5f should be much more up his street.

The son of Old Vic will also be suited by the drop back down into class 4 company, and is able to race of an unchanged mark of 111.

That should be exploitable with further improvement looking on the cards, and Silvergrove is also now reunited with Micheal Nolan who rode him to his last success and is terrific value for his 3lb claim.

Off bottom weight of 10st 13lb, Silvergrove looks weighted to take all the beating on ground that will hold no fears.

Bravo Bravo has slipped to a handy mark and looks a lively outsider in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle (5.05) now eased in grade and fitted with the visor for the first time.

The Martin Keighley trained gelding won a pair of handicap hurdles at Chepstow in 2012/13, with the last of those coming in a class 5 contest off a rating of 99.

The eight-year-old on to finish runner-up in his next three starts, including in a class 3 contest at Ludlow off 115, and also ran well on his first start of last year when third of 14 in a similar grade affair at Wincaton off 110.

The eight-year-old has subsequently failed to sparkle in five subsequent starts, but his handicap mark has fallen as a result and Bravo Bravo is now able to race off just 1lb higher than when last successful.