Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase
Listed Handicap Chase, Ascot 15:00
£100,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 7f 180y, Class 1  
Saturday 20th December 2025

BetPlay

1 Deep Cave 10/1
2 Leave Of Absence 11/1
2 Johnnywho 6/1
12 ran Distances: hd, nk, 1l
Time: 6m 8.27s (slow by 8.77s)

Jack Tudor judged matters to perfection as Deep Cave arrived with a withering late run to deny Leave Of Absence on the line in a dramatic finish.

The seven-year-old, trained in Wales by Christian Williams, had already shown his liking for the big occasion with a victory at the Grand National meeting last spring and returned this season in similar vein when successful at Bangor. Those efforts had seen his mark rise by 10lb, demanding further improvement, but Tudor rode with patience and quiet confidence throughout.

Held up towards the rear, Deep Cave still had plenty to find turning for home as Rex Dingle appeared to have stolen a march aboard Leave Of Absence. When the leader edged marginally away from the rail, however, Tudor was quick to spot the opening, committing to a brave run that proved decisive as Deep Cave lunged late to prevail by a head.

“We thought it was a little bit of a rush to get him to the Becher Chase and we thought this was the obvious race when working back from the National,” said Williams.

“He only went up 4lb for winning at Bangor and he might not end up getting in, but there’s no real panic with him as he’s only a young horse and the youngest horse in this race.

“I told Jack to take his time on him and if he lacks experience today then there will be another £100,000 chase he can run in after Christmas. You need good owners to be able to give those instructions.

“I don’t think we knocked him about too much last year before Aintree, he came to us from France and didn’t have much of a break and had two bad falls round Auteuil. He jumped the big fences well but had two crunching falls at the easier ones, so obviously Bangor was a great place to start off at.

“He probably lacked a little experience early in the race here but Jack took his time and gave him a great ride producing him at the right time.”

He went on: “We try to appreciate days like this which we probably didn’t three or four years ago and when the family comes racing with me now it’s special and to get a winner makes it even better.”

Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed)
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 180y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1   Deep Cave 7 10-13 Christian Williams Jack Tudor 10/1
2 hd Leave Of Absence 8 11-5 Anthony Honeyball Rex Dingle 11/1
3 nk Johnnywho 8 11-5 Jonjo & A J O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 6/1
4 1 Hyland 8 11-3 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10/1
5 ½ Victtorino 7 11-6 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 5/1
6 3 Henry's Friend 8 11-6 Ben Pauling Kielan Woods 18/1
7 3½ Blow Your Wad 7 11-2 Tom Lacey Sam Twiston-Davies 7/1
8 1¾ Transmission 8 10-4 Neil Mulholland Sean Bowen 17/2
9 11 Pic Roc 7 10-9 Ben Pauling Ben Jones 3/1F
10 14 Ga Law 9 12-0 Jamie Snowden Isabelle Ryder 28/1
PU Two For Gold 12 11-5 Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls Tom Bellamy 40/1
PU Threeunderthrufive 10 11-10 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 18/1