Imperial Aura for trainer Kim Bailey will be looking to bounce back to form at Kempton on Boxing Day in the Grade One King George VI Chase after falling in the Betfair Chase on Saturday.
The eight year old two seasons ago 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.
Wow! Imperial Aura bolts up in the Grade 2 @Chanelle_Group 1965 Chase for @KimBaileyRacing and David Bass at @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/69Wxu0zLCj
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 21, 2020
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.
Primed for a crack at the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival he was outclassed and ultimately pulled up.
Stepping up in trip last weekend for the Betfair Chase he fell for the first time in his career, having also unseated and now Kim Bailey is hoping he can get back to form in the King George.
(Credit ATR) Bailey said:“We will see how he is, but hopefully he’ll be back here for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. It is all just very frustrating.”
