Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase Guide

The seven year old last season rose through the chasing ranks, racing four times at Cheltenham placing in two smart events before going on to win another two.

One of those wins came at the festival in the 20 runner Listed Novices' Handicap Chase and the form line he holds has been franked by many horses throughout last season.

The superstar stepped up for his seasonal debut at Carlisle last week in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Listed Chase up against some proven chasers.

However, the gelding showed massive improvement to land the event and his handler stepped up him up next time out to the Grade Two 1965 Chase at Ascot.

Imperial Aura is quickly becoming one of the most improved chasers throughout the season after going on to land the event with ease.

He heads back into in another Grade Two as favourite on Saturday and is odds on to keep his unbeaten run for the season going and on form looks tough to beat.

Having been a horse with bundles of potential but never really showing it, this term he seems to have turned over a new leaf and his jumping has improved massively.

Although winning on his seasonal debut last term, he then went on to fall twice in a row, with many thinking his potential was short lived.

However, he made his return this season at Newton Abbott and jumped much better to finish a good second behind Al Dancer.

From there he has really kicked on landing back to back races with superb jumping displays, especially two starts ago at Haydock when winning a good Graduation Chase by 15 lengths.

Nicholls decided to send him to Cheltenham in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and off top weight was underwhelming, finishing seventh.

It was a chance to show he was better than just a handicapping horse and going back into graded company could leave him vulnerable if not shaking off that run.

Riders Onthe Storm for Nigel Twiston-Davies like Master Tommytucker is a horse that has promised a lot but only on occasions has shown his quality.

It took until last season for him to fully break out of his shell going on to land a hat-trick of wins starting at Aintree in a Handicap Chase and then twice at Ascot.

His first win at Ascot came in a Graduation Chase, but after that stepped up to the Grade One Ascot Chase and saw off the likes of Cyrname and Janika to take the event.

Spirits were high heading to Cheltenham in March for the Ryanair Chase but he fell when making his challenge and has not recovered from that yet.

He has only been seen once this season making his seasonal debut at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase over two miles and he was outclassed by Put The Kettle On and Duc Des Genievres.

He obviously needs a further trip and gets that on Saturday and has big claims if bouncing back to his Ascot form getting soft conditions at the weekend.

The eight year old has been a fair chaser for many years, but has really taken his form to a new level this term when placing and winning in some competitive handicap events.

On seasonal debut he managed to finish a narrow second to Nuts Well in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase and then last time out got off the mark in fine style At Newbury in a decent Handicap off top weight.

He looks to be much better than a handicapping horse now and proved that on his last start when finishing a staying on third of eight on the Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Cheltenham.

He finished behind the liked of Mr Fisher and Kalashnikov who are Grade One standard and if improving for that run could squeak into the mix.