Silviniaco Conti

Silviniaco Conti
Silviniaco Conti at Sandown in April 2014.
Sire	Dom Alco
Grandsire	Dom Pasquini
Dam	Gazelle Lulu
Damsire	Altayan
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	14 April 2006
Country	France
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Patrick Joubert
Owner	Patrick Joubert & P Boulard Potensis Limited Chris Giles
Trainer	Guillaume Macaire Paul Nicholls
Record	36: 16-4-5 28: 11-3-4 (Chases) 8: 5-1-1 (Hurdles)
Earnings	£1,151,609
Major wins
Persian War Novices' Hurdle (2010) Ascot Hurdle (2010) Rising Stars Novices' Chase (2011) Mildmay Novices' Chase (2012) Charlie Hall Chase (2012) Lancashire Chase (2012, 2014) Denman Chase (2013) King George VI Chase (2013, 2014) Betfred Bowl (2014, 2015) Ascot Chase (2016)
Awards
Top-rated Anglo-Irish jumper (2014)

Silviniaco Conti (foaled 14 April 2006) is a French-bred, British-trained Selle Francais racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. After winning several important races over hurdles he emerged as a leading long-distance steeplechaser in 2012. After winning both his races in his native country, the horse won his first three races in England, culminating with a success in the two and a half mile Ascot Hurdle. After running poorly over shorter distances he was ruled out of a bid for the Champion Hurdle and was switched to steeplechasing. In his first season as a chaser he won the Mildmay Novices' Chase and finished second in a strong renewal of the Feltham Chase. In the 2012/2013 season he won the Charlie Hall Chase, Betfair Chase and Denman Chase and in the following season he was rated the best jumper in Britain and Ireland after wins in the King George VI Chase and Betfred Bowl. In the 2014/2015 season he recorded repeat victories in the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase and Betfred Bowl but failed when favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the following season he was beaten in his first three races but returned to form in February to win the Grade One Ascot Chase by 20 lengths.

Silviniaco Conti is a chestnut gelding with a diamond-shaped white star and white socks on his hind legs bred in France by Patrick Joubert. He was sired by Dom Alco (1987–2010) a French Thoroughbred hurdler whose other progeny include Neptune Collonges (Grand National), Al Ferof (Supreme Novices' Hurdle) and Grand Crus (Feltham Novices' Chase). His dam Gazelle Lulu was a Selle Francais mare who has also produced the successful French jumpers Ucello Conti and Toscana Conti. Silviniaco Conti was originally sent into training with Guillaume Macaire in France.