Sir Note chasing Kempton cash in Silver Bowl

James Eustace reports Sir Note in top form as he bids to make the most of the post-Cheltenham opportunity in the Matchbook-sponsored Silver Bowl Handicap Chase at Kempton today.Only seven horses have been declared from 57 entries in a race shaped for horses that failed to make the cut at this week's Festival.Sir Note was eliminated from Friday's Grand Annual Handicap Chase, but Eustace was pleased with that as his seven-year-old showed his aptitude for this extended two and a half miles when successful over course and distance three weeks ago."To be perfectly honest, we weren't unhappy to be balloted out from Cheltenham, purely because he won last time over two and a half at Kempton," said the Newmarket trainer."Once he showed he stayed that trip it helped make this a better option for him and with only seven runners, even though they are all nice horses, it won't be like a Cheltenham handicap."Eustace has booked Nico de Boinville for the ride as Jack Quinlan, who has won on Sir Note five times, will be aboard Mercian Prince."The only sad thing is Jack Quinlan is riding Amy Murphy's horse, who he's ridden before. He's got an arrangement with her," said Eustace."It was a tricky decision for him but we've got Nico de Boinville instead, who I think will suit the horse very well. I'm delighted to have got him."The jockey has been in good form at Cheltenham and so is the horse. He was electric schooling on Tuesday, so we're very hopeful."Murphy is pleased ground conditions will be more suitable at the Sunbury track than at Leicester where Mercian Prince got stuck in the mud on his latest start."He's in good form," said Murphy, who is also based at Newmarket."He just got stuck in the ground the last day at Leicester. It was heavy that day and he never went through it."We're very happy with him and we're looking forward to it."There may be only seven runners, but it still look very competitive. All the horses in there would have gone to Cheltenham."A small field is better but there are a few in there who are going to take all the beating."Tom George believes the early spring ground will favour Max Ward, who has his first race since finishing second to Theatre Flame at Newbury in January."I'm surprised how this race has cut up," said the Slad handler."He will love the better ground. We've been waiting for a bit of nice ground with him and it looks a good race for him."