King George aim for Court
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Trainer Martin Keighley is eyeing the William Hill King George VI Chase as the main objective in the first half of the season for Champion Court.
The Condicote handler would ideally like to get two runs into the seven-year-old before Kempton's Boxing Day feature.
"Champion Court has done really well over the summer and we are slowly stepping his work up now," said Keighley.
"I think he has improved over the summer and he had the longest break of any horse in the yard because he wasn't right when he ran at Aintree. I think he had gone over the top a bit and when he got back we did some tests and he wasn't quite right, so he did amazingly well to finish second.
"Prior to that, his run at the Festival in the Jewson was brilliant when he bumped into a superstar (Sir Des Champs) who is now favourite for the Gold Cup.
"There is a graduation chase at Kempton on November 5 and I think Champion Court will go there for his first run.
"It would be a big ask for him in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, so I think he will go to Kempton and then one more race in between before a crack at the King George.
"I think the three miles at Kempton will suit him and he tends to jump a little bit right, so you'd think going round there will suit him better.
"He is probably a notch off top-class but he is entitled to improve and take on the best this season. His best form is over two miles and five furlongs so he will probably go for the Ryanair after the King George.
"However, if he stays really well, you never know, he could be a Gold Cup horse."
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