King surprised by Julio progress

Alan King admits Hold On Julio’s progress has come as a surprise ahead of his run in Saturday’s Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

Bought for a relatively small sum of £28,000 last May, the winning hunter chaser has annihilated good opposition in two Sandown handicaps since joining his new trainer.

He is the ante-post favourite for this weekend’s valuable prize on Town Moor - formerly known as the Great Yorkshire Chase – and King is looking forward to seeing his charge back on the racecourse.