Silviniaco Conti has reigned supreme as the King of Kempton the past two years, winning back-to-back renewals of the King George on Boxing Day, and returns to the track over hurdles in a bid to get fit for the forthcoming campaign. Paul Nicholls‘ chaser has looked desperately in need of the run in his last two seasons, disappointing last year in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and likewise the year previous when third behind Cue Card in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. A spin over timber will probably set up a tilt at the latter and BetVictor make the 9-y-o 9/4 for the Betfair Chase and 6/1 to complete a hat-trick of King George Titles at the track over Christmas, however he is overlooked this afternoon in favour of Brother Tedd (2.30) under man of the moment Richard Johnson.
Johnson looks to have already sealed a maiden NH Jockeys’ Championship and has recorded his fastest-ever century of winners, including a career-best haul of 33 winners during October. Philip Hobbs’ charge receives 15lb from Silviniaco Conti but has to defy a career-high mark after going up 9lb for an impressive success at Sandown when last sighted in April. Nevertheless, this dual course and distance winner remains unexposed, is open to further progression and boasts an excellent record fresh. He can lower the colours of the King George winner en-route to a likely career over fences thereafter.
Hobbs and Johnson team up with Fingal Bay (3.05) in the feature Intermediate Chase over two and a half miles, who is taken to get the better of Alan King’s Smad Place under Wayne Hutchinson. The selection hasn’t been sighted since disappointing in a Novices’ Chase at Exeter in February but boasts a terrific record fresh and can get his chasing career back on track en-route to a likely step up in grade thereafter.
Emma Lavelle’s string remain in good form and Yabadabadoo (2.10) can follow-up his last time out success at Ludlow. The selection is up 6lb for that success but was value for plenty more for that relatively comfortable success at Kempton and is a confident selection to go in again under Aidan Coleman.
Coleman partners Chankillo (3.50) for the first time with Sara-Jayne Davies’ consistent chaser fancied to go one better than his excellent second last time out at Bangor. The 6-y-o has been a revelation since sent chasing in the spring, winning a handicap chase at Market Rasen and placed in similarly contests at Worcester and Uttoxeter elsewhere. His form is undoubtedly better going right-handed and he should remain competitive from an unrevised mark.
Dan Skelton’s Girly Girl (1.50) left a favourable impression when making all in a bumper last month at Worcester and looks the ideal type to improve further now sent over timber at Plumpton. The selection was well backed before running out an impressive winner under 7lb Conditional Bridget Andrews and should prove even better now stepped up two and a half miles.
Trainer Colin Tizzard enjoyed an excellent weekend at Wetherby, Cue Card bouncing back to form in the Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday under Paddy Brennan, and The Cider Maker (2.55) taken to give the yard yet further success in the feature Novices’ Handicap Chase. The selection chased home stablemate East Hill on his seasonal reappearance last month at Wincanton but is bred to thrive over fences and should appreciate the step up in trip and looks well treated to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles under Brendan Powell.
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