Alner: Kingscliff up against it

Kingscliff, the subject of a recent plunge in the ante-post betting for the Stan James King George VI Chase, will have his work cut out to land the gamble.

That was the view expressed yesterday by his trainer Robert Alner as he voiced doubts over his charge’s ability to land St Stephen's Day’s traditional highlight on his belated first start of the season.

Having picked up a bruised hock in September when on his holidays, Kingscliff’s only public outings since have come in the hunting field as part of his rehabilitation.

Whatever he achieves at Kempton Park, Alner is confident that Kingscliff - a best-priced 11-1 chance with the sponsors – will come on for the race.

“We have a biennial open day here and he picked up his injury just a few days before that, which was frustrating because we had a lot of people coming who wanted to see him,” the trainer recalled.

“Usually he is a horse who comes back in pretty early, but by the time he had got over it he was pretty unfit, and it has just taken time to get him right.

“But no matter how fit you get them at home, there’s nothing like a race to get them to 100%, so that’s why I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much.”