Josh The Boss Leads Contenders for Silver Trophy at Chepstow

The much-anticipated Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow is set to feature a competitive field of eighteen horses on October 14, 2023. As part of the DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival, the race will cover an extended distance of two miles and three furlongs, with the ground conditions expected to be good to soft. Among the top contenders are Josh The Boss and French Ship, both of whom are drawing significant attention from bettors.

Declan Rix, a prominent commentator, has placed his confidence in Josh The Boss, who claimed victory in this race last year. Rix noted that with jockey Jamie Nield‘s 7-pound claim, the horse is only carrying a weight that is just 3 pounds higher than his winning run. Rix praised the horse’s performance last year, stating, “He won it in really good style… he looked just in great form with himself, loving life and out pricking his ears.” Rix emphasized that Josh The Boss showed impressive jumping skills and quickened effectively in the closing stages of the race.

Rix also highlighted the effectiveness of the Twiston-Davies training yard in preparing their horses early in the season. He mentioned that while some horses may taper off as the season progresses, the yard maintained strong performances last year. After undergoing a wind operation, Rix expressed optimism that Josh The Boss is in exceptional form, referencing recent comments from trainer Willy Twiston-Davies on Sky Sports Racing, who noted the horse’s improved training work.

Another horse to watch is Royal Infantry, with Kate Tracey backing him as a strong contender. This race marks his handicap debut, and Tracey believes there is much more potential to uncover. She pointed out his impressive record when fresh and highlighted that he won both his stable debut and his seasonal debut last year at the same meeting. Tracey noted, “If he doesn’t go off favourite I won’t be surprised… he has a very good record fresh.”

“He is still a very smart horse, being a Listed bumper winner before finishing eighth in the Champion Bumper in 2024,”

Tracey added, emphasizing the horse’s strong pedigree and potential for significant performance improvements.

Sam Boswell, another expert in the field, expressed enthusiasm for Thanksforthehelp, a horse trained by David Pipe and owned by JP McManus. Boswell pointed out that Thanksforthehelp recently won at Punchestown, and the form of that race appears strong, with several competitors going on to achieve notable successes. He mentioned that the horse has previously performed well at Chepstow, having won a Pertemps qualifier here.

Boswell remarked, “I still think he’s feasibly quite well handicapped back over here after that win,” and suggested Thanksforthehelp could provide good value at around 10/1. The synergy of form and the suitability of the course make him a compelling choice for bettors.

As excitement builds for the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, racing enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling contest filled with potential surprises and standout performances. The insights provided by the Weekend Winners team offer a glimpse into the strategies that could dictate the outcomes of this prestigious event.