Few races attract repeat winners like the King George VI Chase and Silviniaco Conti (3.10) can become the latest, following up his impressive victory in last year’s race. There are some fine talents in opposition but Paul Nicholls’ dour chestnut is establishing himself as hard to beat at the highest level.
Since Silver Buck’s first success in 1979, nine horses have landed chasing’s midwinter championship twice or more, between them taking the prize in 24 of the last 34 runnings. Something about three miles around Kempton repeatedly identifies the same horses as superior, while others are repeatedly found wanting.
That’s good news for Silviniaco Conti, who ground his way to glory by three and a half lengths over Cue Card last year. He has won three of the last four top-class chases he has contested and, at the age of eight, is the dominant force in this sphere just now.
If he has a flaw, it would be a tendency to hit a flat spot in his races and there was a moment 12 months ago when it looked as though Cue Card was getting away from him. But the cheekpieces fitted for the first time at Haydock last month seemed to help sustain his concentration, enabling him to win the Betfair Chase, in which he was only third the season before.
If there is a rival with deep potential in the field, it would be the exciting Champagne Fever. Twice a Cheltenham Festival winner, this grey will be interesting in the Gold Cup in March. But he has been beaten in the best three chases he has contested and has quite a bit to prove, considering his status as second-favourite.
This is his first attempt at three miles, a distance which appears likely to bring out the best in him, so a significant improvement on his previous form is possible. But it would also be necessary if he is to figure here and the available odds understate the scale of the task facing him.
The going at Kempton is expected to be sounder than last year, which may help Cue Card see out the distance to better effect than when he folded up tamely and handed the prize to Silviniaco Conti. It may even give a chance to Al Ferof, a distant third that day, who achieved a career best when last seen a month ago.
But if there is an each-way bet in the race it may be Wishfull Thinking at 25-1. He has generally been kept to shorter distances but has often suggested three miles would be fine and the pick of his form is not far short of top class.
An abiding memory is the bravery of his slog through the Punchestown mud to win a valuable handicap under top weight three years ago. Barry Geraghty rides for the first time and it is not hard to see them outperforming their odds.
1.25 Kempton The obvious one here would be Stellar Notion, an expensive purchase who has been brought along steadily and swept to a wide-margin success on his chasing debut last month. He has not been unduly punished by the handicapper. But there may be even more scope for progress in Generous Ransom, who has only been given an extra 3lb for scoring at Sandown last time, when his finishing effort was taking. Noel Fehily rides this one for the first time in a year and can be relied on to get the best out of him.
1.45 Wetherby Having been well supported at Cheltenham in November, when only third, Broadway Buffalo produced what connections had been hoping to see at Haydock on Saturday, when easing clear of the Tommy Whittle field. More restrained tactics seemed to help him that day and a 6lb penalty will surely not be enough to anchor him against some exposed rivals here.
2.00 Kempton Saphir Du Rheu is the big reputation in this field and Nicholls is already describing him as a candidate for the Gold Cup in 2016. But it was disconcerting to see him walk into a fence on his chasing debut at Newbury and, although he was better at Exeter last time, this is a much hotter contest. Coneygree and Virak have live chances but Carraig Mor has been underestimated in the wake of his Newbury defeat of Nicholls’s Southfield Theatre, when he won despite a slipping saddle. Going right-handed round here seems likely to suit him better.
2.35 Kempton Even at odds-on, it is hard to oppose Faugheen, who has looked a monster in his last three races and was entirely untroubled by the step down to two miles at the Punchestown Festival. Irving has the benefit of course experience but even his Fighting Fifth success last time leaves him with a bit to prove against the favourite. Sign Of A Victory seems to have made dramatic improvement through the summer and could get involved.
