Lucinda Russell’s star novice chaser Giovinco is expected to step up in grade for a tilt at the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Giovinco posted an excellent performance when second behind Stay Away Fay in the Grade 2 Esher Novices' Chase at Sandown Park on Friday, despite being hampered by a loose horse at key parts of the race. The six-year-old pressed Paul Nicholls' charge all the way to the line, finishing one-and-a-half lengths behind and losing nothing in defeat.

A son of Walk In The Park, Giovinco was a three-time winner during his novice hurdle campaign including in Listed company at Perth in April. He unseated on seasonal reappearance over fences, but redeemed himself with a confident round of jumping to take a novice handicap chase at Aintree in mid-November.

In an interview with Racing UK, Lucinda Russell's assistance trainer and partner Peter Scudamore said: "I think he'll go to Kempton on Boxing Day. He hadn't had a straight run to get to Sandown, [but] I thought Stephen [Mulqueen] gave him the most magnificent ride and he jumped brilliantly.

"I was disappointed given how well he was going at three out and two out that he didn't actually win. If you'd said to me beforehand we'd finish that close to him [Stay Away Fay] I'd have bitten your hand off, but when you watch him three out and he's still cantering I thought he would win.

"Kempton's a little bit easier track and I hope we have a bit better preparation. I see Noel George's horse from France [Il Est Francais] is coming across and I think Paul has got another very good one [Knappers Hill].

"It's not going to be easy, but on the other hand there's nowhere else we can go with these horses."