THE prize money on offer for Chepstow's Totepool Silver Trophy Day meeting, traditionally one of the curtain raisers for the National Hunt season, has been raised to £100,000.

Investment by Northern Racing, which owns Chepstow racecourse, will mean that this year's big event on Saturday October 22 will stage a card worth over £100,000.

The group has also declared its ambition to see terrestrial TV coverage of the fixture restored.

 

News of the increase in prize money was welcomed by leading trainers Donald McCain and Jonjo O'Neill, who also revealed some possible candidates for the feature race.

This year, on account of the quality of previous winners and the competitive fields the race attracts, the Totepool Silver Trophy has been upgraded to a Grade 3 race from Listed status, with a total prize fund of £32,500.

The card also features the Grade 2 Totepool Persian War Novices' Hurdle, worth £25,000, as well as the introduction of a new 2m Class 2 handicap chase, also with a total prize fund of £25,000.

Richard Holland, executive director at Chepstow Racecourse, said:  "In many people's eyes Chepstow's October meetings signal the return of quality jump racing and we wanted the fixtures to live up to that reputation with prize money to match."

Jonjo O'Neill won the 2007 running of the Silver Trophy with subsequent Grand National winner Don't Push It, and he is considering the Grade 3 event for the progressive Mister Hyde.

"Chepstow is a great course, especially for good, young horses as they learn a lot from running there," he said.