Neill set to relive Gloria victory with Piraya at Kempton

The Racing Post Chase is once again set to be graced with a runner in owner Terry Neill's famous red and white silks with the David Pipe-trained French-bred Piraya set to line up at Kempton.

Nearly nine years have passed since Neill's novice chaser Gloria Victis hit the headlines with a 10 length win in the Racing Post Chase for trainer Martin Pipe, a performance that led to connections going for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory the following month.

Gloria Victis went off fourth favourite for the blue riband event won by Noel Chance's Looks Like Trouble, but was put down after a breaking a leg when still in contention two fences from home.

Neill has had numerous other high-class horses including Group 1 Flat winner Red Evie, Puntal and Dark Stranger but he admits that the death of Gloria Victis in 2000 was his biggest disappointment as an owner. He said: "I still don't like talking about it. Ironically, Dark Stranger had won the Mildmay Of Flete the day before, which had been a complete surprise."

Piraya is a 25-1 shot for the £100,000 Racing Post Chase with Coral and Stan James after disappointing when fancied for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November and then falling when beaten at Ascot the following month.

"Things happened too quickly for him in the Paddy Power," said Pipe.

"He was in the process of running a decent race at Ascot last time when he fell at the last.

"He's down to [a rating of] 140 now, which is the lowest mark he has had since he's been in this country.