Walsh sticks with Azertyuiop in King George
Trainer Paul Nicholls yesterday confirmed that Azertyuiop, the two-mile champion chaser, would step up to three miles for the first time in the St Stephen’s Day feature leaving Walsh with a dilemma.
The jockey had initially been expected to ride the impressive Peterborough Chase winner Le Roi Miguel but he has now switched to Azertyuiop, who he has ridden 10 times in the past.
“The decision to ride Azertyiuop was down to Ruby. I was under the impression he would ride Le Roi Miguel but Andy Stewart (Le Roi Miguel’s owner) has sportingly agreed to allow Ruby to ride the champion chaser,” said Nicholls.
Paul Carberry will now step in for the mount on Le Roi Miguel who is as low as 4-1 with Ladbrokes behind Kicking King and doubtful runner Best Mate.
The seven-year-old Azertyuiop is also entered for the two-mile skybet.com Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Monday and Nicholls may still confirm him for the shorter race.
“I still have the option on Sunday of declaring Azertyuiop for the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Monday but at the moment he is bound for Kempton along with Le Roi Miguel,” he explained.
Azertyuiop, a really impressive winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, comes into the race on the back of a second to Moscow Flyer in a thrilling finish to the Tingle Creek Chase earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Le Roi Miguel, who fell in the King George last year, was 20-length winner of the Peterborough Chase on his last start and Nicholls admits he would not know which horse to choose.
He added: “I must say that both horses are in great form and personally I could not split them.”
He is an 11-2 shot with William Hill while totesport go 5-1 from 8-1 about his chances.
Last year’s winner Edredon Bleu could miss out on Sunday as connections are worried about the easy conditions at the Sunbury track.
The 12-year-old recorded a surprise victory over Tiutchev last year but trainer Henrietta Knight is concerned that conditions may be too testing for her veteran performer.
Edredon Bleu was due to run in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last month but Miss Knight pulled him out because of the ground and she may well do that again on Sunday.
The West Lockinge trainer said: “My husband, Terry Biddlecombe, has walked the course at Kempton this morning and has described it as good to soft for most of the track but soft from the last fence in the straight to the bend.
“I have yet to speak to the owner, Jim Lewis, but if it stays like that then I doubt he will run.”
Edredon Bleu is one of three entries for Lewis and Miss Knight with triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate and Impek also in the three-mile showpiece.
Although Best Mate is due to run in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday, the nine-year-old will also be declared for the King George today.
Miss Knight added: “With the weather the way it is, I will leave all three horses in at the 72-hour declaration stage.
“I have spoken to the people in Ireland and they have told me they have not had as much rain as we have so conditions should be ideal for Best Mate.”
Connections of Calling Brave will be “bitterly disappointed” if he fails to make the frame in the Grade One race. A smart performer over hurdles, Calling Brave is proving even better over fences, having won his three completed starts last season before unseating when in contention in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
Nicky Henderson pitched him in against some smart company on his reappearance at Sandown earlier this month, where he finished second to Colonel Frank giving him 10lb.
Victor Dartnall has indicated that his smart prospect Lord Sam is “more than likely” to line-up in the race, but will give his stable star one final piece of work today before he makes a final decision.
: 9/4 Kicking King, 7/2 Le Roi Miguel, 6/1 Calling Brave, The Real Bandit, 8/1 Kingscliff, 12/1 Tiutchev, Seebald, Lord Sam, 14/1 Edredon Bleu, 20/1 First Gold, 33/1 Fondmort.
: 5-2 Kicking King, 4-1 Le Roi Miguel, 5-1 Azertyuiop, 7-1 Therealbandit, 8-1 Calling Brave, 10-1 Kingscliff, 12-1 Lord Sam, Seebald, 14-1 Tiutchev, 20-1 Edredon Bleu, First Gold, 66-1 Fondmort, 100-1 Impek, 200-1 Hot Shots.
