Good ground at Sandown
Conditions at Sandown have dried out ahead of the Stan James King George VI Chase meeting on Boxing Day with the going on the chase course now officially "good".
But with frost forecast for Christmas Day, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper is considering issuing a precautionary 7.30am inspection on Friday afternoon for the big day.
“It’s been generally dry bar one wet night since the Tingle Creek, so that’s not a problem,” he explained.
“There is some talk of a bit of frost on Christmas Day though, so we are leaning towards a possible inspection, which will do no harm whatsoever.”
Tony McCoy hopes to guide Impek to victory for Jim Lewis.
The champion jockey has been chosen over Timmy Murphy, who now rides Francois Doumen’s L’Ami, to partner the Peterborough Chase winner.
It has been a tragic few months for Lewis, who saw his triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate die in action at Exeter in November.
Moreover, the popular owner also endured the loss of his wife Valerie earlier in the month.
While McCoy acknowledged Impek faces a huge test of his unquestionable ability at Sandown, the champion jockey insists Henrietta Knight’s nine-year-old has nothing to fear taking on the likes of Kicking King and Kingscliff.
“The King George is going to be brilliant race with Kicking King, Kingscliff and Impek,” the rider told At The Races.
“It’s going to be a very open race as horses like Royal Auclair have also got a chance, but it’s something to look forward to.
“I’ve been very lucky (in Jim Lewis’ colours) as I’ve won a King George (on Best Mate) and a Champion Chase (on Edredon Bleu).
“It would be nice for Jim Lewis if Impek can win and he’s in good form – but it’s going to be hard to win.”
Nigel Twiston-Davies sees no reason why Ollie Magern cannot return to his best form in the extended three-mile contest at the Esher venue.
The seven-year-old was a major disappointment last time out when he trailed home in last place behind Kingscliff in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month.
Prior to that outing, however, the Alderbrook gelding put in a brilliant round of jumping to beat Kingscliff by one and a quarter lengths in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Twiston-Davies revealed Ollie Magern finished lame after the Betfair Chase, but stressed his charge is now back on top of his game after an impressive spin on the gallops this morning.
“We don’t really know what happened to him (in the Betfair Chase),” said the Naunton handler.
“He ran badly at Haydock but was found to be lame afterwards.
“Things are okay now though – he worked well today and I’m very happy with him.”
Royal Auclair is likely to tackle the King George rather than take up an alternative engagement the following day.
Trainer Paul Nicholls has entered the eight-year-old for the Grade One highlight as well as the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Tuesday.
The Ditcheat trainer also has Hennessy third Cornish Rebel engaged in both races and with Royal Auclair set to shoulder top weight at Chepstow, Nicholls is leaning towards running at Sandown instead.
He said: “I think in all probability he will run at Sandown, which would mean Cornish Rebel would then end up on 11st 12lb.
“That’s a lot of weight, but he did carry 11st 11lb in the Hennessy so we are only talking about 1lb more and he’s a class horse.
“We are going to decide tomorrow morning – this is a headache to sort out really.
“The ground is drying out plenty enough in my opinion for Cornish Rebel at Sandown.
“If the ground had been really testing like it was at the Tingle Creek meeting we would have been quite keen to go there, but it’s now gone good, good to soft in places and it might even be good by Monday, which I’m sure will go against him, but will be in Royal Auclair’s favour really,” he said.
Nicky Henderson hopes Irish Hussar can fill the void left by the injured Trabolgan.
The nine-year-old is set to take his chance as first-choice runner Trabolgan is sidelined with a tendon problem.
Henderson has an able deputy in Irish Hussar, however, who has been off the track since March but put in a pleasing piece of work in Lambourn on Tuesday.
The Supreme Leader gelding was last seen to good effect at the Cheltenham Festival when he finished third behind Kelami in the William Hill Trophy – his first outing for 362 days.
“He’s in good form and has been ticking over nicely,” explained the Seven Barrows handler.
“We’ve been forced into running him a bit but there’s no problems and I’d hope everything will work out well.
“I don’t think the ground will be a problem.”
Stan James King George VI Chase
William Hill bet: 6-4 Kicking King, 15-8 Kingscliff, 7-1 Impek, 17-2 L’Ami, 12-1 Ollie Magern, 16-1 Cornish Rebel, 18-1 Royal Auclair, 22-1 Irish Hussar, 28-1 Monkerhostin, 100-1 Ballycassidy, Distant Thunder.
Ladbrokes bet: 11-8 Kicking King, 13-8, Kingscliff 9-4, 6-1 Impek, 7-1 L’Ami, 10-1 Ollie Magern, 12-1 Cornish Rebel, 16-1 Royal Auclair, 25-1 Irish Hussar, Monkerhostin, 100-1 Ballycassidy, Distant Thunder.
