Architect Tips looks ahead to the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.
Silviniaco Conti Chase - Winner
Saturday marks the Lanzarote Hurdle Day at Kempton and the big chase on the card is the Grade 2 Silviniaco Chase - a race that should offer clues for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Click here for the latest Silviniaco Conti Chase odds.
Ryanair Chase Odds
| Ryanair Chase | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Allaho | 11/4 | 7/4 |
| Stage Star | 7/1 | 5/1 |
| Envoi Allen | 9/1 | 5/1 |
| Jonbon | 11/1 | 11/2 |
| Edwardstone | 12/1 | 10/1 |
Silviniaco Conti Chase Tips & Runners
A key runner for the Ryanair Chase ante-post market is Alan King’s Edwardstone, second favourite for the Silviniaco Conti Chase at the time of writing (best price 11/4).
The former Tingle Creek winner has had to settle for second best behind Jonbon in both the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and last month’s Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, but the extra yardage at this stage of his career is worth an experiment.
He has yet to get his head in front in five subsequent starts since securing his third Grade 1 success. The outcome of this assignment will determine whether he sticks to two miles for the Champion Chase (22/1), or tackles the Ryanair Chase, for which a best price 12/1 on BetMGM UK.
This is a good opportunity for the top-rated runner to open his account for the season before seeing what route he goes down in March. If you want to back him for the Ryanair, now is the time to do so, and William Hill is offering 10/1 NRNB.
Pic D’Orhy is likely to be saved for Aintree
His opponents include Pic D’Orhy, a winner of five of his last six starts, with his only defeat during this period coming in the Ascot Chase last February.
There he finished second behind the impressive winner Shishkin. Paul Nicholls’ nine-year-old has blossomed into the horse connections had always hoped he would become.
He stamped his class on his rivals in this race last year, winning by 16 lengths, and gained his breakthrough win at the highest level in the Marsh Chase at Aintree prior to taking the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot. Paul Nicholls has won three of the last four runnings and if the defending champion is in the same form as last year, he will be hard to beat.
He still holds an entry for the Ryanair Chase, where he’s 33/1 with most firms, but I would highly recommend taking the NRNB, because it’s more than likely he will follow a similar path to last year and be saved for Aintree instead.
From a Ryanair Chase point of view, I think the appealing bet has to be Edwardstone, though the return of Banbridge does spice up the field.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge hasn’t been seen since landing last year’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase. His only entry for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival at the moment is the Ryanair Chase.
Best price 12/1 for that intended target - a win this weekend would see him go single-figure odds.
