Silviniaco Conti Feltham Novices Chase

At 5/1 this is surely the bet rated 162 over hurdles with Grand Crus rated 169 he doesn't have a lot to find. He ran up a sequence of 3 wins over hurdles including a grade 2 victory before coming 3rd 5l off Menorah giving him 4lbs at Cheltenham. There were no big expectations over hurdles last year yet he still achieved that mark.

On his debut this season over fences he jumped really well but found nothing when push came to shove however Nicholls said before the race he would need the run. He looked a completely different horse when he won at Wincanton next time out. Really like the way he jumped and travelled met 1 or 2 fences on a decent stride and took lengths out of the field. Stayed on well up the straight and quickened nicely. You get the sense Nicholls hasn't got to the bottom of him so if he comes on for that run again he should take a lot of beating. He compared this horse to 2006 RSA winner Star de Mohaison.

“I was chuffed with his first run over fences at Chepstow behind Cue Card when he jumped well but would have needed the run. The rising Stars at Wincanton was always his aim and he won it very well last time. He’s good and the next stop will be three miles and the Feltham Chase at Kempton over Christmas.”