Robert Walford hoping for Ascot rain as Walk In The Mill bids for Silver success

Robert Walford would like to see the heavens open for Walk In The Mill ahead of his run in the Lavazza Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

The seven-year-old showed his aptitude for the course and distance when successful by seven lengths from Brandon Hill on his latest outing.

Walk In The Hill was put up 8lb for his pains and Walford sends him back to the Berkshire track hopeful rather than confident.

"He's a lovely horse. Obviously he gets the trip well, which is good," said the Dorset handler.

"The more rain the better for him. When it's really bad, he does handle it really well.

"He's in good form and I'm happy with him."

Go Conquer could bid to give owners Paul and Clare Rooney the tonic of a big-race success in this valuable staying handicap chase following the loss of Starchitect at Cheltenham.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Go Conquer won the Sodexo Gold Cup over the course and distance last month but plans have got to be firmed up as the Rooneys have another possible in Master Dee, from Fergal O'Brien's stable.

"We're not sure yet," said the Rooneys' racing manager Jason Maguire.

"Go Conquer won well round there before so it would be a nice target for him, but I have to confirm it with Jonjo. Hopefully this looks an obvious race for him."

The going would have to be suitable for Master Dee to take his chance.

"He has won round there but over a shorter distance," said Maguire.

"Whether he runs, I don't know. He's ground-dependent and wouldn't want it soft."

Maguire paid tribute to the David Pipe-trained Starchitect, who suffered a fatal injury when well clear of the field coming to the second-last fence in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup last weekend.

"It was a very sad day. He was a great horse," he said.

"It's very hard to replace him, but unfortunately that's the ups and downs of racing."