Philip Hobbs will look to add a fifth win in the £75,000 Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle to his CV this Saturday when the lightly-raced French Ship lines up for him and co-trainer Johnson White.
The Hobbs yard have won this race on numerous occasions in the past courtesy of Lacdoudal (2005), Arthurian Legend (2011), Lamb Or Cod (2012) and Orbys Legend (2021).
Course-and-distance winner French Ship has not been seen since comprehensively winning at Taunton in January but could be just the type to progress in handicaps this season.
Dan Skelton has declared five runners, spearheaded by Royal Infantry, as he launches another attack at a first British Trainers Championship. Joyeux Machin is yet to register a win since moving to Skelton, but was runner-up in a couple of warm handicaps in the latter part of last season.
The pair will be joined by 8-year-old mare She’s A Saint, Take No Chances and West To The Bridge.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard are another stable with a fabulous record in this contest throughout the years. No horse has ever won two renewals of the Silver Trophy, but Josh The Boss could become the first horse to do just that.
He is also joined by a fellow previous winner of the race in Knappers Hill who has won at this meeting three times in the past for Paul Nicholls. Sean Bowen notched his 100th winner of the season at Sedgefield yesterday and takes the ride aboard Olly Murphy’s Rambo T.
Thanksforthehelp recorded a first win in two years when landing a hot Punchestown Festival handicap in April. He is 11lb higher now but goes well fresh and should be involved.
Latest Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle betting (with DragonBet): French Ship 11/2jf, Royal Infantry 11/2jf, Josh The Boss 15/2, Thanksforthehelp 9/1, BAR 10/1
The DragonBet / Native River Handicap Chase has attracted a field of 13 runners including Destroytheevidence who has not won since comfortably making a winning seasonal reappearance at this meeting 12 months ago.
Hoe Joly Smoke is still relatively lightly-raced for a 7-year-old, having made just 10 starts under rules. He is only 2lb higher than the mark he won at Sandown off on his penultimate start. Deep Cave is an equally intriguing player for Christian Williams as he prepares to make his first start over the larger obstacles on these shores.
The seven-race card and second day of the DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival begins at 1.35pm. The action concludes at 5.10pm. The ground is currently Good to Soft.
