Harald eyeing Servo success

Connections of King Harald are delighted to be finally get their Festival winner back on the track at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Unsuitable ground and meetings being abandoned forced trainer Mark Bradstock to delay the seven-year-old’s seasonal debut.

But King Harald will get a prep run after all ahead of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in two weeks’ time.

The seven-year-old is among 16 declared for what looks a highly-competitive Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase over three miles three and a half furlongs.

He was last seen winning the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs in March and is expected to appreciate the step up in distance this time.

“It’s a bit closer to the Hennessy than ideal but he’s in great form,” said trainer Mark Bradstock’s wife Sara.

“I think he’ll be suited by the trip as he’s always been doing his best work at the end of his races.

“When he was beaten by Ollie Magern at Wetherby in February he fairly sprinted up the run-in after Matty (Batchelor) had given him a slap.

“Matty felt if he had got stuck into him sooner, he would have finished even closer.

“We’re hopeful and are looking for a good gallop all the way.

“I don’t think many of them will be able to last out the distance.”

Stormez, who came from a long way back to claim this prize 12 months ago, is one of two runners from Martin Pipe’s stable, the other being Control Man.

Others doubly represented are French trainer Francois Doumen with First Gold and Innox, and Paul Nicholls by Whitford Don and Lou Du Moulin Mas.

The weights are headed by Robert Alner’s Sir Rembrandt, who has been placed in the last two runnings of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There are also two Irish challengers in Betfred Gold Cup hero Jack High, trained by Ted Walsh, and Montayral from Pat Hughes’ yard.