IT has been a bad week so far for Lambourn trainer Mark Pitman, forced on Thursday to put ambitious plans for his stable star Monsignor on the back burner as a result of a minor leg injury.

But all is not lost because at Ascot this afternoon he has a terrific chance to revive the stable's flagging fortunes by plundering the valuable Tote Silver Cup with Smarty (2.00).

Pitman brought back Smarty from a staggering 627-day absence to collect a three-mile chase in some style at Leicester last week, sprinting well clear of the previous winner Esperanza lV on the run-in.

It's not really too surprising that Mark excels with staying chasers since he learnt his trade principally from his mother Jenny, one of the all-time greats of post-war National Hunt history.

"He seems in tremendous form, has got a good weight and goes on soft ground," reported Pitman yesterday in the run up to the race.

Admittedly Smarty's task is far from easy in an extremely strong line-up for the £45,000 showpiece which includes one of the most improved horses from last season, Legal Right, making his long-awaited comeback

But Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old has had an interrupted preparation due to lameness and therefore backers cannot be certain of his fitness.

Potentially posing a more serious threat is Gingembre, second to King's Road in the Hennessy at Newbury in November, a race in which he clocked a life-time best performance.

Martin Pipe's Deano's Beeno will be a popular choice for the following £55,000 Long Walk Hurdle having galloped his rivals into total submission on his reappearance at Newbury.

The victory will not have come as a shock to assiduous form book students as the eight-year-old gelding is at his most cooperative when returning from a long break.

For my money, though, I think he's going to be a vulnerable short-priced favourite and suggest the one to be on is Teaatral (2.35).

Charlie Egerton's runner will no doubt attempt to sit in the slipstream of Deano's Beeno, prior to using his blistering turn of foot to winning effect up the testing home straight.

Teaatral's jockey Norman Williamson is also keen on his prospects of overturning the Pipe hot-pot, saying: "Deano's Beeno is very, very, good, but he also has his off days and if he has one of those I'll be the one to beat."

Whatever the result between Deano's Beeno and Teaatral, neither Tony McCoy nor Martin Pipe are likely to go home empty-handed given that the deadly duo have excellent prospects of taking the closing Brunswick Knights Royal Hurdle via Valiramix (3.35).

The four-year-old son of Linamix may have most to fear from the Gallic raider Bedawin, hailing from Francois Doumen's all-conquering French yard.

Lingfield's eight-race card kicks off even earlier than usual at 11.35 with division 1 of the Ladbroke All-Weather Trophy Handicap.

The top-weight, Magelta, appears at first glance to have it all to do against a bunch of more experienced rivals. Nevertheless there was plenty to like about the way he thundered to victory at Wolverhampton a week ago, a win which further extended the successful sequence of his in-form handler Richard Hannon, who has been mustard on the sand this winter.

The five-furlong dash for the Centurion Handicap brings together a stack of equitrack stalwarts, most of whom turn out week in and week out to entertain the Lingfield faithful. Dropping down the weights like a stone, Sotonian (2.10) will surely take advantage of his lenient mark in the near future. The booking of up-and-coming 7lb claimer Graham Gibbons is another major plus.

Manikato (2.45) is a must in the mile-and-a-quarter Trident Services Handicap

Trainer Roger Curtis placed the nap selection to good effect in the autumn when scoring in runaway fashion at Chepstow. Neither has he been disgraced in his last couple of outings, finishing a creditable fifth at Brighton prior to a cracking third to Burning Truth over track and trip on his latest start.

l At Southwell yesterday Italian Symphony, 16lb clear on official ratings, rewarded his supporters in the Alexandre-Gustav Eiffel Claiming Stakes (division two).

He was pushed clear by Joanna Badger to beat Caversfield by two lengths to secure his 20th career win, including 15 on all-weather surfaces.

''I'm sure he could win six more races like this although he has had his problems,'' said trainer David Evans before the six-year-old was claimed to be trained by John Quinn.

After several near misses My Very Own came good in the Racecall All-Weather Guide To The Winners Maiden Stakes (division two).

''He lost it at the start last time and Jason (Tate) said he had to make his mind up for him when they came out of the stalls. Once that was out of the way it was fairly comfortable,'' said trainer Nick Littmoden