Noel Fehily confident aboard Silviniaco Conti

Jockey Noel Fehily is in confident mood as Silviniaco Conti prepares to defend his crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old wore down Cue Card in an attritional renewal of the St Stephen's Day highlight 12 months ago and arguably returns to the Sunbury venue in even better form.

Although he ran below expectations on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, Silviniaco Conti bounced back to win his second Betfair Chase at Haydock last month and Fehily believes his big-race mount is at the top of his game.

"It was a very good performance in the Betfair and if he reproduces something like that, hopefully he goes there with a big chance," the jockey told At The Races.

"I wasn't disappointed with his run at Wetherby at all, the ground was a lot quicker than everyone said it was - he felt great and jumped great, he turned in and the two-and-a-half-mile horses just came by him very quickly and he got a bit tired.

"There were plenty of positives to take out of the run and I wasn't disappointed. It was a bit sharp for him on that ground and he maybe just needed the run. He soon put that behind him and it was probably nearly his career-best performance at Haydock."

Silviniaco Conti heads a formidable three-pronged assault on the festive feature for the champion trainer, who has won the King George a record eight times.

Al Ferof, the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies, finished a distant third in last year's renewal, but Nicholls believes his charge returns in much better health.

The flying grey certainly looked the part on his return to action in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot.

Nicholls said: "For whatever reason he seems to be much better in himself this year than he was last year, he had a few problems, ulcers.

"He wasn't beaten too far in the Ryanair and I don't think he was at his best last spring. I just thought he jumped left and was a little bit lethargic. I don't think the twice he's run at three miles he's been at his best.

"On his Ascot run you'd say he was a different horse as he hadn't been in that long, so he's bound to have improved. From my point of view, that was his best ever run over fences as the form has worked out.

"If it's not too soft he could be a different proposition this year.

"He has got to prove he stays three miles, but at his best he might well do. He's by Dom Alco, so you'd think he would.

"Champagne Fever has always been a horse I thought would run in a King George one day. We watched him win last time and I said he'd run, but in a King George any number have a chance."
Nick Scholfield will partner Nicholls-trained outsider Wonderful Charm.

A field of 10 runners are set to go post after each of the confirmed horses stood their ground at the declaration stage.

It is nine years since an Irish winner last claimed King George glory with Tom Taaffe's dual winner Kicking King and Champagne Fever carries the hopes of a nation this time around.

A former winner of the Champion Bumper and the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the seven-year-old came within a whisker of completing a Cheltenham Festival hat-trick when touched off in last season's Arkle Trophy.

He made a sparkling reappearance in the Clonmel Oil Chase over two and a half miles and trainer Willie Mullins, who won the King George with the popular Florida Pearl in 2001, is confident a step up to three miles will not be a problem for his bold-jumping and strong-travelling grey.

"Everything suggests he wants three miles plus. Last year we took a chance two-mile chasing as he'd won the Supreme Novices' and he won all bar a quarter of an inch at Cheltenham, but that's the reality," said Mullins.

"We were delighted with how he ran at Cheltenham, he just got chinned but looking at his pedigree we've always said he shouldn't be able to do this.

"You can look at it that it was a surprise doing what he was doing over two miles. Sometimes it mightn't be the greatest thing for a novice going three miles. Three-mile novice chases are tough work and maybe that will pay off this year.

"He won the (Champion) bumper as well. We learned the hard way that bumper winners at Cheltenham tend to want three miles.

"There was a graduation chase at Ascot that would have suited him much better. We are biting off a lot going to the King George but with the rest of his career in mind, it might be the right thing to do.

"If we're lucky enough to win he could be favourite for the Gold Cup, if not we'll have to readjust and try to approach the Gold Cup from a different angle.

"I wouldn't be going there with as much confidence as when we took Florida Pearl as he'd done more as a novice. He won the RSA and then the Durkan on his comeback. I probably didn't realise the task facing Florida Pearl the first time."

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Noel Fehily confident aboard Silviniaco Conti

Dengan url

http://olahragaenjoy.blogspot.com/2014/12/noel-fehily-confident-aboard-silviniaco.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Noel Fehily confident aboard Silviniaco Conti

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Noel Fehily confident aboard Silviniaco Conti

sebagai sumbernya

Olahraga Enjoy