Silviniaco Conti throws himself into the King George picture
Published:Silviniaco Conti could not have been any more impressive when quickening away smartly to win the Charlie Hall Chase and his love of flat tracks now makes him a serious contender for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
His victory at Wetherby has seen Silviniaco Conti cut to 6/1 to win the King George and continues a bright start to the campaign from the novices of last season.
For Non Stop and Sanctuaire are others to have easily beaten more experienced rivals already this season and this suggests a promising year for second-season chasers.
Ruby Walsh stated after that Silviniaco Conti “has the potential to go to the next level” and his victory meant he became the first horse aged six or younger to win the Charlie Hall Chase in two decades.
This warrants a step up in class and he has already performed well at Kempton on his only previous visit, when second in the Feltham Chase to Grands Crus last season.
His jumping has seemingly improved since and he looks the most likely in the yard of Paul Nicholls to fill the void of Kauto Star.
The victory in the Charlie Hall Chase also resulted in Silviniaco Conti shortening in the betting for the Cheltenham Gold Cup to 10/1.
However, given that his best form remains on flatter tracks, there is every chance he will be significantly disadvantaged by the undulations of Cheltenham.
He is still to appear at a Cheltenham Festival despite the fact that he has always been talented and this may have been a deliberate ploy by Nicholls to avoid a weak effort.
But punters believing the hype may prefer to take advantage of the 77/1 on the double of Silviniaco Conti landing both the King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
