Nigel Twiston-Davies: Settled Storm couldn’t be better for Silviniaco Conti Chase

Our ambassador and leading trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies previews his runners at Kempton and Chepstow on Saturday.

We were delighted to kick off 2021 with a nice winner at Sandown in the shape of Guard Your Dreams last Saturday. He’s a horse we’ve liked for a little while now and he’s starting to show us everything we’d hoped. He’s come out of Sandown very well and is expected to go for the big Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle at Newbury next. We think he’ll be bang in there at the bottom of the weights for that race.

On to Saturday and we’ve got a number of good chances, including Riders Onthe Storm and One True King at Kempton and The Hollow Ginge in the Welsh National at Chepstow. Here are my thoughts on them.

2:55 Kempton – Silviniaco Conti Chase

As can often be the case first time out, Riders Onthe Storm was a little bit buzzy in the Shloer Chase, so I wouldn’t look into that run too much. He’s a lot more settled now, has been showing us all the right signs and I don’t think we could have him any better than we currently do. We know he handles proper winter ground and I think the track and trip should be ideal.

As for Imperial Aura, he’s obviously a progressive horse but I still think he’s got it all to prove. Our lad’s a Grade 1 winner over fences and we’re really looking forward to it. He hasn’t run since the November Meeting, but when you get these really good horses you don’t want to rush them and you want to find the right race – hopefully this is the one.

3:10 Chepstow – Welsh National

Fingers crossed the Welsh National goes ahead as The Hollow Ginge is set to take his chance.

If it is on the ground will be very testing and that’s no problem at all for him. He’s a proper stayer who handles conditions and everything about his run over 3m2f at Newbury, when staying on late to finish fourth, suggests the distance will be up his street too.

3:30 Kempton – Lanzarote Hurdle 

We’re also looking forward to running One True King in the Lanzarote Hurdle. He’s gone up just two pounds for his 12-length win at Leicester last time out and we’re hoping there’s still plenty to come. He’s a horse who likes to jump handy and get on with it, which isn’t a bad thing in a big field like this, and Kempton is a track that should suit his running style too.

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