Twiston-Davies pitching Riders Onthe Storm against the Cyrname cyclone at Ascot

Forecasters suggest Storm Ciara will be a passing memory by the middle of the week but there is a storm of another kind brewing for Ascot on Saturday.

Cyrname, who has blown away his rivals in his last three chases at the track, will face a serious challenger in the shape of Riders Onthe Storm in his bid to win the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase for the second year running.

Riders Onthe Storm, unbeaten in two runs since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies, was confirmed on Sunday to be on course for the Ascot feature but with connections under no illusion about the task they face in trying to do what Altior could not in November.

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Twiston-Davies said: "He's certainly going to run at Ascot and it's a huge mountain to climb to beat Cyrname, but you have to try."

The seven-year-old was twice a winner over two miles for Tom Taaffe in Ireland before falling in the Close Brothers over two and a half miles at the Cheltenham Festival last year.

Although Riders Onthe Storm won his graduation chase over Saturday's course and distance on heavy ground just before Christmas, Twiston-Davies added: "He wouldn't want it too heavy as Ascot is a stiff track and the plan is to go for the Ryanair after Ascot."

Riders Onthe Storm (Sam Twiston-Davies, left) winning his graduation chase from On The Blind Side at Ascot in DecemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

The graduation chase defeat of On The Blind Side brought a 9lb rise from the handicapper but that still leaves Riders Onthe Storm rated 15lb below Cyrname, the top-rated chaser in the business who is 8-13 in the ante-post market.

Riders Onthe Storm, second favourite at a best-priced 7-2, will be stepping back into Grade 1 company for the first time since finishing third to Hardline at Limerick on St Stephen's Day in 2018.

He was sourced for £50,000 at the sales in May by Hamish Macauley for owners Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott, a month after pulling up at Fairyhouse in his last race for Taaffe.

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