Verdict

Penalties for earlier Listed or Graded wins could make the difference in this with Stolen Silver penalised 8lb for last season’s Grade 2 success at Cheltenham and Aintree Grade 3 winner Sam Brown asked to shoulder a 4lb imposition. Bristol De Mai was narrowly beaten in last year’s inaugural running of this by TWO FOR GOLD. The latter subsequently went close in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase and Kim Bailey’s charge should make another bold bid with a visor replacing the usual cheekpieces. Brave Seasca is a decent handicapper at his best while Kalashnikov will be sharper for an outing at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Formwatch

Stolen Silver (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Led until 5th, led 7th, headed 8th, led 10th, headed 11th, led after 13th, headed and hanging left before 2 out, rallied flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.

Bristol De Mai (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Led after 1st, headed briefly 12th, soon led again, nudged along before 4 out, headed 4 out, soon ridden, lost second next, no extra from 2 out, lost third after last, 4th of 5, 20 3/4l behind Protektorat (11-10) at Haydock 3m 2f (1) sft in Nov.

Sam Brown 9-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd briefly 4th, slow next, not fluent and reminder 8th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Noble Yeats (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Dec.

Brave Seasca (FR) 17-2 (12-0) Held up in rear, mistake 13th, well beaten from 3 out, 11th of 16, 21 3/4l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.

Kalashnikov (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway 15th, pushed along before 4 out, struggling when hampered next, 6th of 11, dist behind Into Overdrive (10-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.

Two For Gold (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Mid-division on outside, headway 5th, not fluent 10th (bechers brook), ridden along 12th (canal turn), 5th and no impression 2 out, weakened after last, 5th of 14, 21 1/2l behind Al Dancer (10-13) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.