Silviniaco Conti Chase

The Silviniaco Conti Chase is a Grade 2 race over an extended two-and-a-half-mile at Kempton Park in January 2024.

It is named in honour of the dual King George VI Chase winner trained by Paul Nicholls who won the race with Frodon (2020) and Master Tommytucker (2021).

The race was only introduced in 2014 and Nicky Henderson has already won it four times, most recently with Mister Fisher in 2022.

Find out more about the Silviniaco Conti Chase:

Race Overview – Silviniaco Conti Chase

Horses five years of age and older may compete in the Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase the Silviniaco Conti Chase.

There are sixteen fences to jump during the race, which is run at Kempton Park over a distance of around 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles, 4 furlongs, and 110 yards, or 4,124 metres).

The Kempton Silviniaco Conti Chase is one of the most popular horse races held in January.

Famous Silviniaco Conti Chase Winners

The Silviniaco Conti Chase was originally run as a listed chase in 2014 with victory going to the Philip Hobbs-trained Captain Chris. He was a multiple Grade 1 winner including the Arkle Challenge Trophy (2011) and the Ascot Chase (2014). Although Captain Chris never won over three miles he did finish runner-up in the 2012 King George VI Chase, beaten only a neck by Long Run.

2015 winner Balder Success was trained by Alan King and ridden by Wayne Hutchinson. He was a high-class chaser between two and two and a half miles. He also won the Grade 1 Ascot Chase on his next start and had won the Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree the previous season.

Nicky Henderson claimed the first of four victories in a seven-year period when 2013 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Triolo D’Alene prevailed in 2016. The chestnut was very highly tried after his Newbury success, finishing well beaten in two Grand Nationals and a Cheltenham Gold Cup.

2018 winner Waiting Patiently won seven of his 18 career starts including the Ascot Chase. He beat Cue Card by two and three-quarter lengths. He had a similar profile to Captain Chris as he was also better at shorter trips but finished second in the 2020 behind Frodon.

Paul Nicholls trained Frodon to claim his first victory in the race named after a former star in 2020. Frodon formed an incredible partnership with Bryony Frost, famously winning the 2019 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. They surpassed that achievement when winning the King George, finishing fourth and third in the 2021 and 2022 renewals.

What Happened In The Previous Silviniaco Conti Chase?

Check out the latest result from this race:

Key Silviniaco Conti Chase Trials

There are no specific trials for the Silviniaco Conti Chase but it has served as a significant prep race for the Ascot Chase in previous years. Captain Chris, Balder Success and Waiting Patiently all went on to win that Grade 1 race after winning at Kempton Park.

Six of the first nine winners of this event ran at Ascot next time. Master Tommytucker (2021) finished runner-up, Frodon (2020) and Mister Fisher (2022) finished fourth and Triolo D’Alene (2016) finished fifth.

The Ryanair Chase is the most obvious target for winners of this race at the Cheltenham Festival. Three previous winners have gone on to run in that race but all were beaten. Balder Success finished seventh, Vaniteux (2017) finished last and Frodon (2020) finished fourth. 2019 winner Top Notch took his chance in the Stayers Hurdle but finished well beaten.

Silviniaco Conti Chase Betting Trends

Six of the first nine winners of the Silviniaco Conti Chase started favourite. Captain Chris (15-8), Balder Success (Even money), Vaniteux (5-4), Waiting Patiently (13-8), Top Notch (6-4) and Mister Fisher (15-8) all justified solid market support. Frodon (5-4) and Master Tommytucker (2-1) started second favourite and the only surprise was the 8-1 success of Triolo D’Alene.

There is no real age bias evident in this race with an even spread of winners from seven to ten years.

Captain Chris and Master Tommytucker both won as ten-year-olds.

The fact that no horse younger than seven has won indicates that this race is tailor-made for established chasers.

An official rating of 154 or higher is usually required to win this race.

The highest-rated winner to date was Frodon (168).

Silviniaco Conti Chase – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Nicky Henderson has farmed this race successfully, winning it four times within a space of seven seasons; Triolo D’Alene (2016), Vaniteux (2017), Top Notch (2019) and Mister Fisher (2022).

Paul Nicholls will obviously have been keen to win a race named after one of his best racehorses. He struck for the first time with Frodon in 2020 and again the following season with Master Tommytucker.

Nine different jockeys have registered a single victory in this race.

Facts about the Silviniaco Conti Chase

• The Silviniaco Conti Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older.
• The race is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs, and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped.
• The race is scheduled to take place each year in January.
• The race was first run in 2014.

Summary of the Silviniaco Conti Chase

Thank you for reading our Silviniaco Conti Chase guide.

We have looked at betting trends, race stats, betting odds and given tips, so you have all the information you need whether watching or placing a bet on the race, named after a hugely popular and likeable chaser.

There are more races in January that you might enjoy, so make sure you check them out.

Check out our Kempton tips page if you enjoy watching races at Kempton Racecourse.

Enjoy!

Other Popular Horse Races in January

Here are all of January’s horse racing-related posts: