Exciting times at Sandown

The transfer of Kempton’s Stan James King George VI Chase fixture has allowed sister track Sandown Park to break the £2m prize-money barrier for jumps racing during the forthcoming campaign.

Sandown’s season, which gets underway on November 5, features the likes of the William Hill Tingle Creek Chase and the Betfred Gold Cup, with both sponsors today confirming their backing for those races until 2009.

Despite having to cough up on several occasions, bookmakers Sunderlands have also increased their bonus to £75,000 for any horse that wins the Imperial Cup and goes on to score at the Cheltenham Festival the following week.

Sandown announced details of the season ahead at a lunch where those present included leading trainers Tom Taaffe and Nicky Henderson, as well as last season’s champion owner David Johnson.

Racing director Andrew Cooper said that, in particular, he was looking forward to seeing how the King George would fare at its new home temporary home while Kempton undergoes redevelopment work.

“It is Kempton’s race and Boxing Day (St Stephen's Day) at Kempton is something special, but it is going to be fascinating to see how the race transfers,” he said.

“It is going to be important for us to get our marketing right and let people know what is happening this year.”

The second day of the two-day Festival meeting on December 27 will not, however, be held at Sandown having been switched to Huntingdon.

“It is a busy time of the year at Sandown and we felt that it was sensible to limit the amount of racing on the ground in order to be sure that we can provide the best possible conditions,” explained Cooper.

“The Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase has been switched with the two-mile novices’ hurdle so that we will have a six-race card on Boxing Day which features five chases and the Christmas Hurdle.”

The switch of racecourses for the King George will not bother last year’s winner Kicking King, according to his trainer.

Taaffe, whose stable star commences his campaign when running at Punchestown on Thursday, said: “It won’t make any difference to us at all.

“Sandown is a fair track.

“I saw him do a few canters early this morning and although he’s not 100 per cent, he’s just where I would want him to be at this stage. I’d say he is about where he was when he ran at Gowran this time last season.”