Silviniaco Conti was cut from 2s to 7/4 at BetVictor for the Betfair Chase at Haydock later in the month after his comeback run over an inadequate trip over hurdles at Kempton on Monday. The dual King George winner was no match for the impressive Brother Tedd but the latter should be kept on the right side of this winter.
A decent card at Chepstow this afternoon and Rebecca Curtis wastes no time in getting Imagine The Chat over the larger obstacles but the drop to the minimum trip is a concern on his chase debut and preference is for Javert (2.15) who can be keen but is fitted with a hood for the first time.
The selection showed promise on all three starts over timber for Emma Lavelle and with the yard in such good form first time out might be the time to catch him. It is worth noting that he went off Even money for an Irish point-to-point when he didn’t appear to get home over 3miles.
Evan Williams has his string in rude health, just missing out on a treble at Ludlow on Monday, and his The Gipper is an interesting runner on his first start over timber but the vote goes to Alibi De Sivola (2.50) for Paul Nicholls.
The selection has been off the track since finishing second in a Kempton Bumper (polytrack) over 18 months ago but fitness is unlikely to be an issue with the champion trainer and he did cost connections £75,000 as a 3-year-old.
Leith Hill Legasi (3.50) is only six and she ran a couple of races over fences last term to make her of interest in the staying handicap off her feather-weight of 10 stone. Sam Twiston-Davies is a significant jockey booking and Charlie Longsdon’s mare will never have a better opportunity of adding to her Lingfield success last December running from a 6lbs lower mark.
Only four to post for the Novices’ Chase at Warwick but it sees the reappearance of Ballyalton (2.40) who hasn’t seen the track since finishing runner up to no less than Faugheen in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival. Owned by golfer Lee Westwood the selection wouldn’t want any further significant rain but he has always looked a potential top class chaser and this is a big day.
Trainer Ian Williams must think the horse still has the pace for today’s 2m trip and Warwick is a track that takes some jumping especially for a novice. There is plenty of pace in the race with Aso and Ballybolley likely to take them along at a good clip and a bigger danger might come from Willow’s Saviour another returning from a long break for the excellent Dan Skelton.
It is impossible to oppose Aloomomo (3.40) such was the ease of his Uttoxeter triumph last week and he is sure to be raised by more than today’s 7lbs penalty when his revised handicap mark is announced. Gavin Sheehan missed the ride at the Staffordshire track as he was delayed in traffic, but he is back in the plate today and if over Friday’s exertions the Warren Greatrex gelding will be very hard to beat.
Soft ground the order of the day at Nottingham and three of the five runners who go to post for the valuable Mile Handicap won last time out including Storm Rock (1.55) the only representative from the classic generation in the field.
The selection should have won at Haydock in the spring but showed he was a decent sort on soft ground when scoring at Leicester last week; he carries a 6lbs penalty for that effort this afternoon but is taken to defy the rise with underfoot conditions sure to suit.
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