King keeps faith with beaten duo
Medermit has a choice of novice chase options at the March meeting while the Ladbrokes World Hurdle remains the target for Karabak.
The Barbury Castle trainer was delighted with Medermit’s performance in finishing a close second to Hell’s Bay in the Dipper Novices’ Chase.
“He ran very well. I have no excuses. On the day we were just beaten by a better horse,” said King. The two of them have quickened well away. They’ve done a good time and his jumping was very good.
“Apart from not winning there are plenty of positives to take out of it. The third (Reve De Sivola) was a long way back. He’ll have one run somewhere before the Festival. Whether he goes for the Arkle or the two and a half mile novice chase I don’t know yet.
“I won’t make my mind up for a while but he will have the two entries. It’s a nice problem to have.”
Karabak failed to follow-up his Relkeel Hurdle success over the course and distance of his previous start, but King was not too disappointed with his run in taking fourth place behind impressive winner Oscar Whisky.
“Maybe it just came a little bit quick for him. It was only three weeks since the Relkeel,” King went on. “He’s OK, we’ll give him a nice break and you probably won’t see him now until the Festival.
“Any Given Day and Celestial Halo were much better off at the weights with him from the Relkeel. It wouldn’t have mattered how well he was as he wouldn’t have beaten the winner.”
