Fairyhouse remains King target

KICKING King is still set to make his long-awaited comeback in the rearranged Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse.

The Grade Two event was due to be run on Sunday but the recent heavy rain has seen the venue postpone their card until Wednesday due to an unraceable track.

However, the delay has not altered trainer Tom Taaffe’s plans, with the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner on course to have his first run in over two years in the Grade Two heat.

“It is still the intention to run in the Normans Grove, nothing has changed,” said Taaffe.

“It’s a bit of a pain and it is prolonging things unfortunately, but we will have to grin and bear it.

“But it’s the same for everyone and it is the ideal race for him so hopefully it goes ahead on Wednesday.”

Meanwhile Harper Valley is likely to go from the parade ring to the sales ring at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

The Val Royal gelding is primed to take his chance in the Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle before going under the hammer that evening at the Brightwells January National Hunt Sale.

Harper Valley is catalogued in the Brightwells auction, starting in The Centaur at 6pm.

Harper Valley’s trainer Gordon Elliott said: “The plan at the moment is for Harper Valley to go back to Cheltenham for the Finesse Hurdle and then be offered at Brightwells’ Cheltenham sale that evening.”

Harper Valley opened his account over hurdles in great style when defeating Franchoek over the course and distance last month.

Franchoek, 5-1 joint-favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle in some lists, is also set for the Finesse Juvenile Hurdle, in which he will be 7lb better off with Harper Valley for a length-and-a-half defeat.

“Harper Valley is in great order – he missed four or five days recently with a bit of a stone bruise but he’s OK now,” Elliott went on.

“I don’t think the revised weight is going to be a problem with Franchoek. It’s going to be a good race and I think he’s definitely up to running in the first three.

“The improvement last time was definitely down to the ground. He likes nice ground and the plan is to go to Cheltenham on the 26th and then we’ll hopefully see him run in the Triumph Hurdle after that.”