Which of Imperial Aura's rivals can give him the Grade 1 test he needs?
2.55 Kempton
Ladbrokes Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV
This is expected to be another step on Imperial Aura's path to the Ryanair and the one complaint his detractors retain is that he has never yet beaten a true Grade 1 horse.
Whether he will have to in this race is moot. Clondaw Castle is certainly not a top-level performer yet, but cases can be made for Master Tommytucker and Riders Onthe Storm.
It would be a little glib to say that Riders Onthe Storm is a demonstrable Grade 1 horse given he won last year's Ascot Chase. That was a messy affair, 50-1 shot Traffic Fluide was coming to challenge strongly when falling at the last, and it was such a hard race that you could reasonably ask what mark it might have left.
While Riders Onthe Storm was still going fine when falling three out in the Ryanair, his Shloer Chase run was notably jaded and the idea that two miles was too short for him does not really wash. Fears of a long-term Ascot hangover have every right to persist.
Master Tommytucker's only Grade 1 run came here and ended in a fall, but he showed lots of zip prior to that and finally delivered on his long-held promise when winning at Haydock in November. A small-field race like this appeals as a better fit for him than the December Gold Cup last time, so if he is on his best behaviour he may yet show he is up to the top level.
There seem relatively few ifs about Imperial Aura. A slight tendency to go left at Ascot last time did not prevent him from recording a career-best performance, so cannot really be used against him at Kempton.
It is hoped that Master Tommytucker or Riders Onthe Storm can step up to give him the Grade 1 test he still has to pass, but if they cannot it is hard to see anything in Imperial Aura's way as he works towards the Cheltenham Festival.
Keith Melrose, betting editor
What they say
Kim Bailey, trainer of Imperial Aura
He's on an upward curve, but this will be a big test for him and I think people are getting over excited. He's won his two races this season nicely, but he's got a lot to do still before he proves himself a proper Cheltenham horse. His last race at Ascot might have looked impressive, but it probably wasn't the strongest race as the second horse has been beaten again at Ascot since and the third was pulled up in the King George.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Riders Onthe Storm
He was a bit over fresh and ran with the choke out over too short a trip on his reappearance at Cheltenham. He's in good form and we saw what a good horse he is when he won those races at Ascot last season.
Tom George, trainer of Clondaw Castle
We’ve really seen an improvement in him at home. He ran well in the Peterborough Chase, though I’m not sure Cheltenham is his perfect track and the ground would have been soft enough for him that day. He got badly hampered at the wrong moment before staying on well. I think a flat track like Kempton should suit him and he’s an improving horse that is ready to go up to the next tier.
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Paul Nicholls, trainer of Master Tommytucker
He actually ran all right the last day with top weight. Sometimes you’re better off running in a conditions race and a small field than carrying top weight in a handicap, but he learned a lot jumping-wise and racing-wise. He made one mistake two-out otherwise he wouldn’t have been too far away, though he wouldn’t have won. He learned plenty, he’s much better off in these types of races, he’s in good form and hopefully he’ll run well.
Reporting by Graham Dench
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Published on 8 January 2021inPreviews
Last updated 19:25, 8 January 2021
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